If you use a slow release granular insecticide it will probably be better that a liquid insecticide. Without the slow release feature, I would suspect they would perform equally, if they are applied per manufacturers specifications.

You just kill too many insects that way. Insects are the bottom of the food chain and when you kill them, you are removing food for birds. You also kill the bugs that eat other bugs, so pests flourish. Just live and let live. If you see an ant nest where you don't want one, pour boiling water on it.

I've had ants before, but never found it to be a problem so big that I needed chemicals to control it. To be honest, once I changed from chemical fertilizer to organic fertilizer, all my insect issues have gone away. It's been 25 years in four different houses in around San Antonio and not one problem since going to organic fertilizer.