01
CAS·001Fipronil
Phenylpyrazole
Non-repellent
Forms
Gel · Spray · Bait station
GABA-gated chloride channel blocker. Non-repellent: foragers walk through treated zones, return to the nest, and transfer through trophallaxis and grooming. The single most reliable structural perimeter active and a top-tier indoor gel against argentine, odorous house, and carpenter ants.
Pitfall
Do not apply over baited mounds, kills foragers before bait uptake. Restricted near surface water.
Indexed against · 17 spp.
02
CAS·002Hydramethylnon
Amidinohydrazone
Metabolic
Inhibits mitochondrial electron transport. The classic fire-ant broadcast bait, slow enough for full nest transfer (10–14 days), fast enough for residential turnover. Degrades quickly in UV and moisture.
Pitfall
Keep dry, water-damaged bait is rejected. Do not broadcast on wet turf.
03
CAS·003Indoxacarb
Oxadiazine
Neural
Bio-activated sodium-channel blocker, toxic only after metabolic conversion inside the insect. Very fast individual-mound kill (24–72 h) and excellent residual on perimeter granulars. Low non-target toxicity to mammals.
Pitfall
Fast knockdown can outpace transfer in large polygyne colonies, pair with a slower IGR for whole-colony elimination.
04
CAS·004Boric Acid / Borate
Borate
Stomach
Forms
Liquid bait · Dust · Gel
Slow stomach poison and mild desiccant. Low concentrations (0.5–1%) in sugar-water liquids are the gold standard for argentine, ghost, and odorous house ants, workers carry it back, queens are killed by trophallaxis. Long shelf life, very low mammalian toxicity.
Pitfall
Concentrations above ~2% taste bad and ants reject. Solid dust must reach a dry void to remain effective.
05
CAS·005(S)-Methoprene
Juvenoid
IGR
Juvenile hormone analog, prevents brood from maturing and sterilizes queens. The safest fire-ant bait around livestock, hay, and pasture. Slow (8–10 weeks) but extremely durable suppression.
Pitfall
No knockdown, useless when a customer expects a visible result in days. Combine with hydramethylnon (Extinguish Plus) for both speed and longevity.
06
CAS·006Pyriproxyfen
Juvenoid
IGR
Second-generation juvenoid, 10× more active than methoprene. Used in large-area programs (Esteem, Distance) for fire ants and big-headed ants. Excellent for sensitive sites, schools, wildlife areas.
Pitfall
Same speed limitation as methoprene; pair with a metabolic bait for visible results.
07
CAS·007Acephate
Organophosphate
Neural
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. As a dry mound dust (Orthene FAK) it is the fastest, most reliable single-mound treatment for fire ants, no watering in required. Strong sulfurous odor.
Pitfall
Restricted from many indoor and food-handling sites. Odor causes complaints near residences.
08
CAS·008Abamectin
Avermectin
Neural
GABA/glutamate chloride channel activator from Streptomyces. Advance and Avert baits use 0.011% abamectin against pharaoh, ghost, and Argentine ants, slow enough for queen transfer in budding colonies.
Pitfall
Photodegrades in direct sun; not for exterior broadcast in open ground.
09
CAS·009Thiamethoxam
Pyridine-azomethine
Non-repellent
Neonicotinoid acting on nicotinic receptors. Optigard products are non-repellent perimeter and crack-and-crevice sprays, good rotation partner with fipronil to resist resistance.
Pitfall
Pollinator restrictions: avoid blooming plants and follow state neonic regulations.
10
CAS·010Bifenthrin
Pyrethroid
Neural
Repellent pyrethroid, excellent fast knockdown on contact and good residual on turf. Standard for perimeter granulars (Talstar) against nuisance foragers and as a turf barrier against fire ants migrating off treated lots.
Pitfall
Repellent, never combine with bait programs in the same zone or you scatter the colony without queen kill.
11
CAS·011Silica / Diatomaceous Earth
Borate
Desiccant
Physical desiccant, abrades the cuticle and absorbs lipids. CimeXa and food-grade DE are useful in dry voids and wall cavities where chemical residuals are unwanted.
Pitfall
Only works dry. Cakes and becomes inert in humid voids or after a single moisture event.