Will Termite Treatments Kill Ants Too?

Each year ants and termites plague homeowners in much the same way. Both carpenter ants and termites can cause wide-scale destruction to the wood supporting your home. Ideally, your home would have been constructed with termite-resistant wood built into the foundation. But these technologies did not exist when many Missouri homes were being built. 

A simple answer to the question is, no, termite treatments will not necessarily kill ant infestations.

Understanding Termite & Ant Infestations

Termites come through the soil and up through the foundation of your home. Low hanging wood is particularly susceptible. Once the termites get in, they destroy the wood from the inside out. Because they attack from the soil, soil treatments are an effective measure against ants.

Ants, however, come in through the spaces underneath doors, cracks in windows, and other access points. A soil treatment will not be an effective strategy against ants. 

Termite Infestation Strategies

Termites can be extinguished in three different ways or some combination of these methods. Those include:

• Termite baits. These baits are installed either underground or in crawl spaces near to the soil. Worker termites eat the poison from the baits and carry it back to their colony where it is ingested by the warrior and reproductive castes of termites wiping out the entire colony.
• Soil treatment. Soil treatment infects the topsoil with termiticide. As the termites move through the soil, they’re poisoned by the soil treatment. This limits access to your home and other vulnerable property.
• Wood treatments. Wood treatments target infested wood-destroying an active infestation. It also helps to prevent future infestations.

Ant Infestation Strategies

Ant infestations, particularly carpenter ant infestations, require a more thorough solution. A professional pest control expert will locate and exterminate the entire nest. Unless you really know what to look for, carpenter ant nests can be very difficult to find. But the trained pest control specialists at Amco Ranger know how to find and get rid of serious ant infestations.

Additionally, since ants generally get in through cracks along the foundation, doors that don’t quite line up with the frames, and windows that may not shut properly, locating areas around your home that provide easy access for ants is the key to prevention.

Can Termite Treatments Kill Ants?

Yes. The same kind of pesticide used to kill termites can sometimes kill other insects including ants. However, the treatment is not effective for the purpose of ant control since ants and termites have very different living arrangements, attack properties differently, and have different food sources.

Talk To Amco Ranger Today

Throughout the State of Missouri, Amco Ranger provides top-quality pest control services to both homeowners and commercial property owners alike. Our knowledgeable technicians in St. Charles and St. Louis work only with the most effective and least noxious chemicals safeguarding your home against pests and your children and pets against pest control materials. Give us a call or talk to us online and we’ll be happy to schedule a free inspection today!