What is the best method to reach a pharaoh ant colony with insecticide?

Baiting is the most effective method for reaching a pharaoh ant colony with insecticide for several reasons. Pharaoh ants are notorious for their small size and the tendency to nest in hidden, inaccessible areas, making them difficult to control with traditional surface treatments like spraying or dusting. When using bait, the active ingredient is mixed into a food source that the ants find attractive.

This method allows the workers to carry the bait back to the colony, where it is shared with the queen and other colony members through social interactions like trophallaxis (the exchange of food and fluids). This not only targets the foraging ants but ultimately disrupts the entire colony, including the reproductive members.

In contrast, spraying or fogging may only kill the ants that come into direct contact with the insecticide but often fail to eliminate the entire colony. Dusting is less effective because, while it can reach hidden areas, it does not promote the same uptake and transmission process that baiting does. Therefore, baiting stands out as the superior method for effectively addressing pharaoh ant infestations by ensuring the entire colony is impacted.