5 Best Ant Bait Reviewed by TH (2022 Edition)

Like many other harmful pests, ants can turn out to be a nightmare when they invade your home or any commercial area. These tiny insects can take over your life very easily.

According to World Health Organization, a number of ant species can be dangerous to us humans than just causing stingy bites and skin irritation.

In some hypersensitive individuals, ant bites especially Fire Ant bites can trigger severe and life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).

I researched and tested different ant baits available in the market . Following are some of the best products that can be used to keep these notorious pests away:

Similarly ants are also known to transfer many disease causing organisms such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Clostridium and Streptococcus to humans. These pathogens can also be transferred by ants to our food thus resulting in many food borne diseases, according to ‘WHO’.

1. Terro T300 Liquid Ant Baits

Terro T300 Liquid ant baits are among one of the most effective ant killing products. These are manufactured by Terro, a popular brand of Woodstream Corporation renowned for providing a vast range of pest control products including effective ant killing products.

Terro Liquid Ant Bait consists of pre filled and ready to use liquid ant bait stations that can be simply placed where ants are mostly seen on a household level.

These liquid bait stations prevent the bait from drying out while providing ants with a continuous supply of liquid, day and night. The active ingredient present in this bait is Sodium Tetraborate decahydrate (Borax) which is an excellent insect killer.

It is widely used in home pest control products. The mode of action for borax and what makes it so effective in the pest control industry is its ability to kill insects without using toxic chemicals that could be dangerous to inhale or ingest. When consumed, it acts as a stomach poison to the insects which come into contact with the boric acid.

Terro Liquid Ant Baits are specifically designed to kill the worker ants that are responsible for finding and providing food back to their colony.

After placing this bait initially you might see more ants but there is no need to worry because passing by ants in search of food get easily attracted to the sweet and sugary liquid inside the bait stations. This is why you will see more ants in the beginning but with the passage of time all of these ants and others back in their colony will be dead, leaving an ant free home for you.

The good thing about using Borax as active ingredient is that it slowly interferes with ant’s digestive system and ultimately kills it but provides enough time for the ant to go back and share the bait with the rest of the colony.

Therefore, this slow killing method of borax serves an additional benefit that it allows the ant to make several trips to the bait and back to their colony thus affecting thousands of individual ants.

Instructions To Use

1. Before placing the bait stations, be sure to remove other sources of food, such as crumbs, sugar, and grease spots to prevent attracting ants elsewhere.
2. Avoid placing bait where you might have sprayed insecticides
3. In order to set up the bait station, hold it firmly with bait pack tab facing up. Break off the tab being careful not to spill the bait.
4. Place the bait station label side up on a flat surface near signs of ants.
5. Place additional bait stations anywhere they may enter your home.
6. For best results, use all 6 bait stations to ensure a sufficient supply for the ants.
7. After setting these up, monitor placements regularly
8. Replace when bait is depleted. Complete control may take up to two weeks
9. Once ants are controlled, replace the baits every 3 months to keep them from returning.

2. Syngenta Optigard Gel

Optigard Ant gel bait is an effective product that can be used to kill not only ants but entire colonies. It is clear and odorless bait which is known for its effective gel formulation.

It has proven to be accepted and palatable to a wide variety of ants including Argentine, carpenter, odorous house, ghosts and other ants

The active ingredient used in this gel-based product is Thiamethoxam (0.10%) that upon ingestion by ants interferes with a specific receptor site in the insect’s nervous system and suppresses its activity.

Thus, can be used to kill ants and the entire colonies invading your home including worker ants and queen.

This gel product comes in a ready to use, 30 gram syringe with a plunger for easy application.

Syngenta optigard gel is a good quality product and can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Its powerful formula makes it withstand harsh environmental conditions. The product does not get affected easily by water or high temperature and remains effective for more than two weeks.

It can be used in areas where other bait stations cannot be placed such as along cracks and crevices and holes in the wall or along the sides of the cabinets
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Another remarkable feature about the product is that ants continue to feed on Optigard ant gel bait even if the product dries out over time and the active ingredient becomes concentrated. It is long lasting and does not need to be reapplied very often.

However, it should be used according to the package instructions as it can be harmful for children or pets upon consumption.

Another remarkable feature about the product is that ants continue to feed on Optigard ant gel bait even if the product dries out over time and the active ingredient becomes concentrated. It is long lasting and does not need to be reapplied very often.

However, it should be used according to the package instructions as it can be harmful for children or pets upon consumption.

3. MaxForce Anti Bait Station

Maxforce Ant Bait Stations are produced by the Bayer Environmental Sciences that is a reputable name in pest control industry.

These bait stations can kill a wide range of ants including all common household ants such as Acrobat ants, Argentine ants, Crazy ants, Odorous House Ants, and Pavement ants in addition to the Pharaoh Ants.

The active ingredient in this product is Fipronil. Fipronil works by disrupting the normal function of the central nervous system in insects. It is more toxic to insects than people and pets because it is more likely to bind to insect nerve endings.

Each pack contains 24 loosely packed single bait stations which are also resealable making them the best option to keep baits fresh and protected from contamination.

These bait stations provides a fast killing action and wipes out ants in just six hours.

Maxforce ant bait stations are also convenient and easy to use.

Unlike other products, these bait stations do not produce unpleasant odor. In case of normal infestations it is preferred to use 3 stations per average size room.

The manufacturers recommend using these bait stations along with a gel bait. Gels and stations provide different dietary needs for ants. The ants may eat the gel, or get into bait stations, or both–ensuring optimal control.

Maxforce bait stations are child resistant and can be used indoors and outdoors.However, caution should be taken around children or pets as they might interfere with the bait activity.

Also these can also be used in residential, commercial, and industrial areas.

Instructions To Use

1. Place Maxforce ant bait stations in the areas where ants appear the most.
2. Three bait stations should be placed in an average size room or approximately one bait station per 100 square feet.
3. Avoid spraying chemicals or disturbing trails between ant nests and bait stations.
4. Periodically, replace bait stations that are empty and relocate stations that show little or no activity.

4. Spectracide Ant Shield

It is manufactured by United Industries Corporation–an American company providing a wide range of insecticides and pesticides. Other than Spectracide, their common brands include: Repel, Hot Shot, Garden Safe, Liquid Fence, Black Flag and Cutter.

The active ingredient present in this ant killer is Indoxacarb (0.05%). When ants ingest indoxacarb, it gets converted into a new molecule which has insect killing properties. This process is activated specifically by the enzymes present inside ants.

Spectracide Ant Shield attracts and kills ants with bait stakes. These bait stakes are weather resistant and can be easily used outdoors, in garden and backyard too.

Worker ants whilst seeking food find bait stations and start feeding. The active ingredient i.e. indoxacarb gets into their system and upon going back to their colony also poisons the entire colony. As a result the colony stops reproducing and begins to die, making your home free of ants’ infestation.

Each pack of the product contains 6 baits. These bait stakes are child resistant but should be used with care around children and pets.

The insecticide used in these ant shields is fast acting and upon contact starts killing ants within hours. The bait shield can last up to 3 months.

Instructions To Use

1. Place one bait stake into the ground along each ant trail around the outside of homes.
2. Place stakes in areas inaccessible to children, pets, and other animals
3. Larger homes or homes with heavy infestations may require two or more bait stakes to achieve control.
4. For continued outdoor control, replace baits every three months or sooner if the infestation is heavy.

5. Raid Max Double Control Ant Baits

This bait attracts and kills ants. After feeding on it, the ants return to their nest to transfer the active product to other ants and kill the entire colony.

The population of ants will reduce within few days. The baits will continue to be effective for up to 3 months.

This bait is working so much better than spraying everywhere. You can set them down and within a few days, all the ants are gone. You will not have to worry about your dog and cat getting at the poison because of the way they are made.

Directions on How to use:

Depending on the size of the infestation, you can use one or all baits at one time and replace them every 3 months.

1. Separate baits before placement.
2. For particularly heavy infestations you can use additional baits.
3. For best result place the baits next to walls and on the path of ants (baseboards, in corners, under sinks, in cabinets, and near plumbing fixtures).
4. DO NOT CONTAMINATE FEEDS OR FOOD PRODUCTS, FOOD PREPARATION SURFACES, DISHES KITCHEN UTENSILS, AND FOOD CONTAINERS.
5. Baits work best on horizontal surfaces touching corners and walls.
6. Replace ALL baits every three months to keep ants from returning.
7. Store in a dry area, inaccessible for children.
8. If empty, do not reuse the bait station.

The product inside is harmful if absorbed through the skin. Causes moderate eye irritation. Avoid contact with eye, skin or clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can ants trigger allergic reactions?

Generally ant bites are not harmful and only cause skin irritation and mild discomfort. But some ant species including Fire ants can cause anaphylaxis i.e. a threatening allergic reaction in hypersensitive individuals and might require emergency treatment with an injection of epinephrine.

Can ants cause diseases?

Normally ants do not cause diseases but some species such as pharaoh ants are known to transmit organisms such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Clostridium and Streptococcus. This ant species is also known to be problematic for burn patients as they are attracted to fluids produced by burn wounds, according to the World Health Organization.

How can ants be kept away from home?

The best way to keep ants away from your home is by keeping it clean and removing anything that would attract them. Food and plates should not be left on the countertops. The best way to store food is by putting it in sealed containers. Drawers should be kept neat and clean. Garbage should be taken out every day in order to help minimize ant invasion in homes.
Another important point is to ensure that the house is properly sealed and there are no gaps around windows or in floor etc.
If ant infestation problem still persists then different types of bait can be used.

How many types of baits are there for entrapping and killing ants?

There are numerous types of commercially available baits. Among them are Liquid and gel baits, Granular baits and Ant killing dust or powder based products. .

• Ant gel baits

Gel baits are one of the effective means to trap ants.

These are small gel based products that can be used to kill ants. Gel baits are perfect to be applied around the corners and edges of rooms, along the cabinets and other cracks etcs.

• Ant granular baits

These are best to be used outdoors, where other products fail to provide benefit. Granular baits are generally not affected by water and can work fine outside even in the garden or soil etc.

• Ant Dusts

These are also designed to combat ants that might be hidden in the cracks of the walls and cannot be reached by any other product.

You can also use a powder blower to ensure that the powder gets in the wall and

such places thoroughly. Blowing the dust orally can be hazardous.

• Ant liquid baits and bait stations

Liquid baits are essentially liquid products that can be put in the holes, corners and entry points in your house or where ants are found in a large number or can be used in combination with bait stations.

Conclusion

There are different types of baits and bait stations available in the market for fighting off ants’ infestation problem such as Gel based products,Liquid baits and bait stations, ant dust and granular products too.

Bait stations are known as effective and easy to use for both small and large-scale infestation as they can be used indoors very easily. Such products can also deal with a variety of ant species and targets both ants and their colonies. Also, these products can be used for dealing with both household and commercial level infestation. Overall, bait stations are an easy fix for infestations and work by sweeping out entire colonies. They are safer to be used around children and pets than gel or granular baits and leave no residue of product.

On the other hand, gel-based products are extremely beneficial as they are not affected by environmental conditions and can be used in a variety of spaces where other products such as bait stations cannot be placed. Gels baits are effective for fighting off infestation and can be used both indoors and outdoors. Gels are a good option to be used in areas where other products can’t be placed. However, these should be used with caution near food-handling areas. Gel baits seem the most fitting option for dealing with infestation problems as ants can easily take the insecticide or poisonous material back to their colony.

Granular and dust based products provide excellent control from ants that are either found outdoors or in places where other products are difficult to be installed or used such as attic and basement and other void spaces. But these cannot be used indoors.

So, depending on the ant infestation problem, the most suitable product can be chosen from the above mentioned products.