Hello. I wanted to inquire about the toxicity of Drax to household pets – if I apply this to floors and areas where my cat can also lick or eat, I want to confirm it will not be hazardous to his health. Thanks so much.
Most highly developed animals like mammals have a digestive track that is far more complex than what insects have. This enables them to safely digest all kinds of foods and other organic matter which would kill creatures of a lesser degree. And this capability is what makes insect baits so common. They are generally safe to use around household pets because even if a properly placed out amount is consumed, it will almost always have no impact. There are always exceptions to the rule but in general, if you have a normal healthy cat and are making proper bait placements, there would be no danger to them. There are many reasons for this but here is a simple explanation.
Cats are mammals like dogs and people. Their digestive tracks use acids and other digestive chemicals which are far more toxic and stronger than anything we have in our insect baits like Drax Dual. For this reason the use of this product, as well as other insect bait like MAXFORCE GRANULES or OPTIGARD GEL wouldn't pose a hazard when used properly. This means you should apply it as described in our ANT CONTROL ARTICLE by making small, discreet placements. If this is done, risk is non existent.
But storing the containers or keeping them out in the open where pets and children would have direct access would be a mistake and should be avoided. And the same is true with any of the products we carry. In generaly, if you follow the guidelines on how to safely mix, apply and store our products as explained in our PRODUCT SAFETY VIDEOS, you and your pets will be safe.
Lastly, if you are still unsure about the use of Drax Dual inside where the cat may have access, consider the use of our DUAL CHOICE ANT BAIT STATIONS. These have both types of attractants inside them, much like the DRAX DUAL, but are self contained so the cat will not be able to consume the gel nearly as easily.
If you have further questions, please give us a call on our toll free at 1.800.877.7290 and good luck with your ant problem!!
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We have flying ants that migrate through here every once in a while. A friend came by the Motel I won and suggested this spray that he had. I believe it is Lamboa something. I sprayed some and it really done the trick. I would like to order this if I can get you to lead me in the right direction. I thought I would spray it around the motel and in the crawlspace. Will this kill a variety of insects?
Flying ants are usually a sign that there is a nest close by. As explained in our ANT CONTROL ARTICLE, ant nests will release swarmers, or ants with wings, when they are trying to start new colonies. These swarmers are essentially males and females who will attempt to hook up away from their nest of origin with the goal of starting a new nest.
Seeing flying ants throughout the summer is quite common. Wind and air currents can carry them quite some distance when they leave a nest so most are probably just landing on or around your property and not cause for immediate concern. But if you aren't doing some kind of pest control on a regular basis, any of these ants could easily start a new colony which in turn will lead to a whole other set of problems.
To properly protect yourself and your property, it would be wise to institute a regular pest control program. The simplest thing you can do is to spray the outside of the building with something like the LAMDA-CYHALOTHRIN. Highly effective on most any insect, it's both odorless and economical to apply. Most homes will require a treatment every 2-3 months during which time a good 1-2 gallons should be applied. Clearly more should be used when treating properties that lodge people or process food. And of course, many such structures should probably treat inside as well. But since most all insects originate from the outside, doing a good regular perimeter treatment around the structure is a big help and should be done no matter what. This way you can get them before they ever get inside.
If you end up having an ant problem that's persistent and won't seem to go away, start to employ some of the products we have featured in our Ant Control article including the GRANULAR ANT BAIT and the inside ANT BAIT STATIONS. These will really help. And if you have any other pest control needs, give us a call on our toll free at 1.800.877.7290 to get a technical representative on the line who will be able to set you up with the best products for your particular need.
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Hello,
We are seeing about 5-7 ants in our house each day. Just recently, we are seeing some winged ones. They are not termites. But we are not sure what kind of ants they are. They are black and have narrow waists and elbow antennaes. The winged ones are bigger than the others we have seen. Could it be carpenter ants? If so, how do you get rid of them?
There are many different species of ants that can invade your home. Most ants are small in size and can be controlled using the "three prong approach" detailed in our ANT CONTROL ARTICLE. This approach will take care of most any ant including Carpenter Ants but if you suspect Carpenter Ants are invading, it will take slightly different materials to attain the same result.
Since you're unsure, I suggest you go visit our CARPENTER ANT CONTROL WEBSITE which features a couple of slow motion videos of all the different sized ants commonly found in any Carpenter Ant nest. After viewing the video you should be able to tell just which species you have and get the appropriate chemicals once you know.
And don't forget that you can always call us toll free at 1.800.877.7290 for more support. We're open 6 days a week and can usually provide on the spot information to get the right products needed for any pest control related problem.
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I had a lot of ants, maybe hundreds, swarming around my back door to my deck. They were light red and some had wings. I know they weren't termites because they weren't dropping their wings. They seemed to be in the wall space alongside the door. I say this because there were coming out and going in during all this activity. I sprayed some clorox spray cleaner on them and that seemed to kill them fine but I'm afraid there is still a nest in the wall. What should I use to control them?
Since citronella ants don't readily feed on the bait options listed in our article, you'll need to go after them directly. Since you've seen where they are both active and most likely living, a direct treatment of the wall void should be done with some [thkBC height="600" width="1000" anchortext="BAYGON AEROSOL" title="BAYGON AEROSOL PRODUCT PAGE WITH NO VIDEO" url="http://www.ridants.com/test-1/test-2/baygon-aerosol" type="iframe"] (without videos).Now check the [thkBC height="800" width="1000" anchortext="Baygon" title="BAYGON AEROSOL PRODUCT PAGE WITH SUPPORTING VIDEOS" url="http://www.ridants.com/test-1/test-2/baygon-aerosol-with-videos" type="iframe"] page with supporting video embedded. And then lastly, here is the BAYGON DIRECT LINK using our old format, going directly to the page with a "back" button so people should be able to get back to the article easily. his product could be used alone around the perimeter of the home, along with direct treatments of any other wall voids where you suspect they might be living, as it will kill all ants (and other pests) that come in contact with it in a day. Mind you it's not a quick killing material so insects won't seem bothered by it. But that's part of Phantom's design. It's slow working which allows it to get all inside their nests which in turn proves to be a much more productive approach when using residuals for ant control.
If you feel these ants (or other pests) are active around the home, using the PHANTOM CONCENTRATE might be a more economical treatment option since it be sprayed around and inside the home as a general pest control product. Overall we've seen great results with the Phantom and the aerosol version is easy to use and ideal for small infestations like citronella ants usually create.
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I've had these really tiny ants in my bathroom for the past month and I can't get rid of them. They seem to target various items around the sinks and even though I clean with bleach or lysol, they come back. I have no idea where they nest might be so I don't think spraying is going to help. Are there any options that might be able to get rid of them before they drive us all crazy?
Ants can be a real problem when they start nesting in the home. Foraging workers will be easy to kill but unless you get to the nest, there is no way traditional sprays can be effective. There are two options which are detailed in our ANT CONTROL ARTICLE.
First, applying some MAXFORCE GEL and OPTIGARD GEL in the bathroom should get them to feed on one of these two options. This bait would then be shared with other nest members and the end result would be a dead nest. Baits are very effective for ants nesting inside homes and the preferred method of treatment.
Second, a good residual around the outside of the home with some OPTIGARD FLEX will make sure you don't have any return. This product is a new type of active which is highly effective on ants. We've been able to get good ant control in homes that in the past have been near to impossible to control. Apply it with a good PUMP SPRAYER and use it once every 2-3 months to make sure they don't return.
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There has been a big problem with ants in my kitchen for the past month. I've sprayed several times and they just seem to keep coming back. Is there something I need to do to rid ants from my house once and for all? I've never had a pest problem but now that I do, I'm wondering if I need to hire a service company or what?
To rid ants from your home can take a little work and patience. First, read our on line article on how to Rid Ants From the Home. This explains most everything you'll ever have to do. Second, decide which of the products will be best for your situation. Without a doubt you'll have to use our three prong approach which means bait inside, perimeter spray on the outside and bait or insecticidal granules in the yard. Lastly, you'll need to keep up with these applications quarterly so you don't get reinfested.
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I've been told the small ants I see are odorous house ants and they're taking over my kitchen. I get over 50 of them daily and the bait placements I've been making doesn't seem to do the trick. They just keep eating and eating it but they won't go away. What else do I need to do?
Odorous house ants are relentless once they find a good food supply. Their scent trails will lead thousands of foraging worker ants if left untreated. The Gel Baits used inside will help but in most every case you'll need to treat the perimeter with a good residual like Optigard Flex. This product will last long and won't be detected by the ants walking over the treatment so it will be able to impact the entire colony as our Ant Control Article explains. Apply this around the entire outside and inside of the home using a good Pump Sprayer and you should get positive results in less than 2 weeks.
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I've been seeing sugar ants on my counter for the past two weeks. They seem to appear after I start preparing a meal. I'm sure they're sugar ants because they go right for anything sweet. But I'm afraid to spray anything since they're only on my kitchen counter! What can I do there that won't poison my family?
I'm guessing you are calling these ants sugar ants because you notice them feeding on something sweet. That knowledge can be used against them in the form of a sweet ant bait. In other words, the safest and most effective approach for these ants will be to apply some of the Honeydew Ant Gel where you've been seeing them. You can make the placement on a paper plate if you aren't comfortable sticking some out on the counter somewhere. Since these ants are coming out looking for food, they'll surely come out for this sweet gel once it's applied. The key here is that once you set some out, you'll have to refrain from using the countertop till after they've been feeding on the gel for a few days. This will insure they get a good dose of it and then share it with other nest members as explained in our Ant Control article. Chances are high their nest is close by but well hidden so spraying wouldn't be an option. This is the only way you'll be able to get rid of these ants so be sure to have some patience to get the desired results.
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I want to know how to get rid of ants that are living around my patio. They are making ant hills where the soil pops up and becomes messy. These aren't fireants but seem to like the concrete so I think they might be pavement ants. What can I do to get rid of them?
To get rid of ants that are nesting in the ground is pretty easy. The fastest approach is to drench them with some Cypermethrin. This will kill them on contact and requires very little material to be effective. More details can be read about in our Fireant Control article. Fireant mound drenching is very effective and quick so that's the preferred method of treatment for that species. But any species of ant can be treated the same way so I'm sure it will work for your problem too. If you take care of all the ones you see now chances are high they won't be nearly as active for the rest of this year. Treat early next season and you'll find controlling them to be a lot easier in the long run.
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I've had ants for the past month and I can't get rid of them. I spray and a day later they're back but have basically moved over to where I didn't spray. Do I have to spray every inch of my house or is there something else I need to do to get rid of ants?
Getting rid of ants can take a little time. As our article on how to Rid Ants from your home explains, the ants you're seeing represent a small amount of the population. Spraying them won't kill the colony. They'll just send out new ones and in day or so, you'll see the new ants marching around. To get rid of ants for good, you'll need to use the three prong approach we've explained and detailed. The Optigard has proven to be highly effective and for the outside, we suggest you use since it's been working on vitually every species of ant.
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