Chemical control of ants is most effective when focusing on which inside the nest?

• A. Pupae
• B. Queens and larvae
• C. Workers
• D. Food stores

Answer: (B)

Focusing on the reproductive and developing members inside the nest is what makes chemical control most effective. The queen is the source of all eggs, so removing or disabling her stops new ants from being produced. The brood—the larvae and pupae—are the future workers; when you disrupt or kill them, the colony can’t replace aging or killed workers, and its growth and labor force decline.

Many baiting strategies work by foraging workers bringing poison back to the nest to be shared with brood and the queen. If the target is inside the nest where the queen and brood reside, the poison is more likely to affect the entire colony rather than just the visible workers outside the nest. That’s why queens and larvae are the best focus for effective chemical control.