There are over 47 species of ants classified as leaf cutter ants, but they all do the same thing: destroy plants by removing parts of their leaves. A large infestation can completely devastate crops, trees, and flowers in the span of hours.
The ants don't actually eat these leaf parts, but instead bring them into their underground nests where they use the leaves and other organic materials to nourish their fungus garden. This years-old fungus is mixed with bacterium from the ants bodies and fed to the ant larvae, who eat the fungus as they grow.
As leaf cutter ants nests can be large and extensive (housing millions of ants at a time), it can be difficult to completely eradicate an infestation. But, with the right products and diligent applications, you can help prevent these ants from completely eating your vegetation. Read below to learn how to treat for leafcutter ants.
Select a Mound Treatment
There are not many products on the market labeled for leaf cutter ants, and leaf cutter ants are not attracted to most traditional ant bait. The products you use to treat for carpenter ants and black ants may not work for leaf cutter ants.
DeltaGard G Granules are one of the few products labeled for use on leaf cutter ants. Other baits like Maxforce Complete Granular Bait are labeled for use on ants but are not specific to leaf cutter ants. Know that with any bait or drench, repeated applications will be necessary.
Products needed for Step 1
Apply Your Treatment
Following the instructions on the label of your leaf cutter ant treatment product, apply your drench or granules to the ant mound.
Some products cannot be applied on agricultural sites, see product label for where you can and cannot apply.
Repeat Applications
Reapply your bait or drench as needed, according to the label of your bait or drench. Leaf cutter ants can move quickly around a property and are hard to completely eradicate, so multiple treatments will be needed for full control.
Preventative Applications
The best way to combat leaf cutter ants is to apply treatments before the ant mounds appear. Learn more in our guide on how to prevent leaf cutter ants.
If you have any questions on how to apply or select a leaf cutter ant treatment products, give our experts a call at 866-581-7378 or emails [email protected].