How Ant Bait Works

Ant bait works by luring ants, who eat the bait and take it back to their nests, where it kills the entire colony, according to Barb Ogg, educator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. Baits consisting of borax or boric acid in water are commonly used for ants.

Boric Acid

Boric acid is toxic to ants when ingested and also causes abrasion of their exoskeletons. The bait consists either of boric acid in food form or a powder that adheres to the legs of the ants. After the ants ingest the boric acid, they die within a week of starvation and dehydration, according to BeyondPesticides.org.

Hatching Insects

Adult ants carry boric acid back to their nest and expose ant larvae to the toxin. The colony eventually dies if its larvae do not reach maturity.

Advantages of Boric Acid Bait

Boric acid bait is commonly used against ants because it has limited toxicity in mammals compared to other pesticides. It acts more slowly but can eradicate ant colonies. Insect sprays may kill foraging adults, but are ineffective against their colonies, according to EcologyCenter.org.

References

• Ecology Center: Non-Toxic Ant Control
• University of Nebraska--Lincoln Extension Lancaster County: Ant Baits: A Least Toxic Control
• Beyond Pesticides: Boric Acid