Are Ant Baits Effective When Dealing with an Ant Infestation?

Finding ants in your home can leave you feeling frustrated and defeated. Do not make the mistake of thinking that ants only invade dirty homes. Ants will descend on even the cleanliest of homes. Figuring out how to rid your home of ants can feel like a hassle. There are so many options out there, so how are you supposed to know which one will work?

Ant baits are one of the most commonly used methods for ant control, but how effective are they? Knowing effective ant baits are or aren’t will help you help you determine if it is the best way to remove ants from your home.

The Claims

The claim is that ant baits contain a specified mixture of insecticides that attract ants in search of food. The worker ants enter the bait trap, pick up the bait, and bring it back to the nest. After they pass the food through the colony, it is supposed to successfully eliminate it, including the queen.

If one ant finds the bait, they relay the message to other workers. Those workers then grab the bait and they carry it back to their colony in droves. The food is then given to the queen, other workers, and even the larvae. Since the bait is slow-acting, it gives the ants enough time to forage enough to feed to the colony and kill them.

The Truth

Although ant baits do work on some ants, they are not effective against all ants. Therefore, it is not recommended that you use ant baits to treat your ant infestation. There is no way of knowing for sure which ants it will kill and which ones it won’t. Instead, your best bet is to contact a professional for assistance.

Professional Treatment

Professional exterminators know exactly what combination of ingredients to use to effectively eliminate an entire colony of ants. They can identify the type of ant that invades your home and use an effective solution that eliminates them entirely. The only way to stop an infestation is to ensure you destroy the colony. If the queen manages to survive, you may still end up dealing with the problem.

Aside from taking care of the colony and stopping the infestation, professionals can also find ways to help you avoid future infestations. If you suspect an ant infestation in your home, contact a pest control professional as soon as possible to deal with the problem as soon as possible.