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Baits by themselves will not usually control
odorous house ants; also employ other tactics.
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Managing
odorous house ants with baits
- Odorous house ants prefer sweet baits such as boric acid (use
low concentrations with less than 1% of the active ingredient).
- Odorous house ants may sometimes feed on protein baits (look
for products containing fipronil or hydramethylnon).
- Place baits in protected areas near distinct trails indoors
and outdoors.
- Place baits in locations inaccessible to children and pets.
- Offer small portions of each bait to see which one is preferred
before employing an extensive baiting program.
- Follow up regularly to make sure bait is working and place fresh
bait as necessary.
How
baits work
- Worker ants will be attracted to the bait and take it back to
the nest where the entire colony, including queens, may be killed.
- Bait must be slow-acting so workers won't be killed before they
get back to the nest.
- Results may not be evident for several weeks.
- Killing workers does little to control the colony, because as
few as 1% of a colony's foraging worker ants are able to provide
sufficient food to support nestbound queens and larvae.
- Bait stations or ant stakes are easiest to use and safest for
the environment.
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