Alan from Austin, Tx writes
I live in the central tx area and have a problem with leaf cutter ants. I have multiple ant mounds in approx 40x40 area (nest area). I also have ant foraging holes in many areas. I've tried Amdro Ant Block and Ortho Bug B Gone. They don't work well. A web site recommended a residual insecticide like Conquer (www.antcontrols.com). Does Conquer kill leaf cutter ants? Will it kill the queen(s)? Is there anything better to kill the ant?
Conquer will kill ants that make direct contact with treated areas. Leaf cutter ants can be a difficult pest to get rid of. The colonies are large and the ants make their own food so poison baits only have limited effects on this species of ants. According to several university websites Maxforce Complete Granules containing hydramethlynon are some what effective, though they will usually eliminate only about 30% of a large colony in one treatment and will need to be reapplied several times. Deltagard granules is one of the only products actually labeled for leaf cutter ants. The product label recommends treating the mound directly and lightly watering the granules in. Again it may take several treatments to get the desired results. We also recommend contacting your local cooperative extension office to see if they have any recommendations for products that have worked for other people in your region.
Answer last updated on: 09/01/2011
