Priority Service – Small Ants

Review paperwork, both in your phone and on your service route log at the beginning of your day
and before you travel to the service location. Confirm the service to be performed and pay attention to COW notifications, client’s concerns, or any other special remarks.

1. Park with the flow of traffic on the street. Do not block driveways when possible.
2. Review the Order Instructions and Location Instructions. Review your route log for hand-written notes. Time into the account via PestPac or on paperwork. Make sure to check the history on this account, looking for any signs of an ongoing small ant issue. If the house has a history of issues, then it may be best to speak with an experienced Technician or your manager before proceeding.
3. Grab all necessary equipment needed: Flashlight, boot covers, ant bait box, gloves, and inspection mirror.
4. Ring the doorbell or knock; step back to give personal space
   a. If nobody is home and you cannot get inside, proceed to step 9, to complete the exterior service.
5. If someone is home:
   a. Greet them, introduce yourself, and identify that you are with Good Earth Pest Company.
   b. Ask where they are seeing the SA. If it is inside, ask if you can enter and see what they are seeing. Some customers prefer us to only inspect the exterior of the structure.
   c. Address their concerns and explain what you are doing. Remember, we are a service company. Always make sure that the client’s needs and expectations are being met.
6. When inside, start in the area where SA have been observed. Speak with the client to gain valuable information:
   a. When did the SA activity start?
   b. Did the SA show up in response to a food source?
   c. Has the activity been sporadic, or have they formed foraging trails?
   d. Has the client applied any material or cleaner? Watch to see if the SA seem affected.
7. Remove any food source or bait placed by the client, which act as competition for bait that you will apply.
8. Look for an entry point into the area and apply appropriate bait in a manner according to the label.
   Example Situation: The client has SA coming from an outlet in the kitchen to the right of the sink. The ants are going to a soda can. First, remove the can from the area and place a bait station on the countertop where the SA are contacting from the wall. Pull the faceplate of the outlet and inject gel bait into the wall void on the outside of the electrical box, so that the gel does not contact any wiring or electrical connections. This will give the ants a resource in the wall void to help reduce the activity seen on the countertop.
9. After addressing the activity inside, inform the customer that you’re going to inspect the exterior and see if you can find where the SA are entering the structure.
10. Inspect the foundation around the perimeter and look for any signs of SA activity. Look for both live and dead ants as an indicator of activity. While inspecting, also look for storage, overgrown vegetation, connecting structures (fences, gazebos, wires, sheds, support posts.)
11. There are several strategies for addressing exterior ant activity:
    a. Apply gel bait under the siding or the foundation. Try to keep it away from the moisture or rain.
    b. Spread granular baits in landscaped areas around the structure.
    c. If heavy activity is found around the structure, a fresh liquid application can be used to completely cover the perimeter and get material on all possible entry points. Use a non-repellant.
    d. If there is overgrown vegetation on the structure, or anything else hindering the application, treat where possible and make note of the restrictions due to the obstacles. When applying liquid materials, pay special attention to sensitive items such as animal food/water bowls, BBQ utensils, potted plants, edibles, etc. and make sure to move them to avoid contamination.
12. Return to your vehicle when done and secure all equipment and make it is safe to travel.
13. Reconvene with the client and report all your findings, including the measures you took to address them. Also, make sure to set expectations for the improvement in activity that they can anticipate. If the SA activity doesn’t decline in 1½ – 2 weeks, then they should contact us. If the client is not home and you need to communicate with them, please call or send them a text. Make sure to leave a door hanger so the client can confirm that you were onsite.
14. Enter all required information on material applied into PestPac Mobile. Also enter notes on the service provided today as well as any client concerns, observations you made, or necessary environmental changes (see PS.102 Entering material information and notes into PestPac Mobile). Your service record should tell a complete story of what you observed and accomplished while onsite. Remember: Clients have access to your notes so they should always be professional and appropriate.
15. Check off the account on your service route log.