Ant Baiting Tips

What Kind of Bait Should I Use?

The bait you use for a given infestation will largely depend on the feeding preferences of the ant species. To determine this:

1) Perform a nontoxic food preference survey using either a plastic bait tray or white index card. Include at least one sweet and one protein food source, such as jelly or honey and peanut butter. You may also add diced up crickets or meal worms.

2) Place the filled bait tray or index card in various locations both indoors and outdoors where you have seen ants foraging. Inside, this may include windowsills, near electrical outlets, pipes and drains, sinks, countertops, toilets, or other sources of moisture. Outside, survey baits may be placed at corners of the foundation, near exits and entrances, on windowsills, at the base of trees, and near incoming and outgoing plumbing fixtures and electrical lines.

3) Baits should be left in place for at least 30 minutes (and as long as 2 hours) to allow the ants adequate time to establish a trail.

4) Once food preferences have been established, the survey trays or cards receiving the greatest activity should be replaced with one or two commercial baits in the same food category as the preferred sample bait.

Additional Baiting Tips

• Remove competitive food sources. Practicing good sanitation is the best way to remove food particles or spills that may serve to deter ants from accepting chemical baits.
• Always use fresh bait. As a rule, only place baits with packaging that was opened within the last 6 months.
• Do not use residual sprays or dusts anywhere near bait placements. Doing so may either kill ants before they can take the bait or repel them from seeking out a chemical bait.
• For fire ants, a broadcast bait is generally more effective than a mound treatment.
• It is better to err on the side of too many bait placements than too few. If possible, place baits at all potential entry points.