Using an insecticide that also repels ants may seem ideal. Not only are you killing the ants but you're also preventing new ants from taking their place. If only that theory worked in practice. If repellent bug sprays are not used correctly, they can make an ant problem worse, which is why non-repellent sprays are often recommended. Does this Spark an idea?
Repellent Sprays
Pyrethroids are considered a "repellent insecticide" because they work quickly, usually within 10 minutes after the ant is exposed to them. Foraging ants are killed before they can leave a pheromone spray for other ants to follow. Pyrethoids will continue working as long as they remain but will not kill the entire colony. They kill only foraging ants, or about 10 percent of the colony.
Using Repellent Insecticides
Repellent insecticides like pyrethroids can be used as barrier sprays around homes and buildings to prevent ants from entering the structure. But they will work only if the barrier is complete and if the ants are nesting outdoors. If the ants are nesting inside the home, a barrier spray will prevent them from leaving. Pyrethoids can also be applied directly to the nest to kill the entire colony.
Problems with Repellent Insecticides
Repellent insecticides can often cause more problems than they solve. They can cause ants to rush around erratically, known as "flushing." The activity may trigger the colony to split and relocate, which means you now have two nests to get rid of. They also work against more effective treatments, such as baits, and kill beneficial insects, such as ladybugs.
Non-Repellent Sprays
Non-repellent sprays don't kill as quickly. They take about 90 to 120 minutes before they become effective. Because it takes the insecticides longer, the ants have time to lay a trail for other ants to follow. So even though some ants are killed, new ones may replace them. Fipronil, chlorfenapyr and thiamethoxam are considered non-repellent ant insecticides. Non-repellent sprays can be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as baiting, and will not cause colonies to split, as repellent sprays can.
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