How to Attract Ants and Kill Them

Attracting and killing ants is also known as baiting. The aim is to attract ants to poisoned bait that they will take back to the nest. The poison will then kill the entire ant colony, rather than just the ants that are attracted to the bait. The key in effective baiting is to use a slow-acting poison. If the poison works too quickly, the ants won't be able to make it back to the nest with the bait.

Things You'll Need

• Ant bait
• Plastic gloves

Instructions

1. Clean your home to eliminate any other food sources. This includes wiping counters, sweeping floors, and vacuuming daily. Make sure all food and trash are in secure containers. If you have pets, remove any uneaten food or place the food dish in a small pan of soapy water to create a barrier to ants.

2. Fix any leaks and eliminate any sources of moisture. Ants are also attracted to houses in search of water, so it is important to deny them that, too.

3. Stop using any insecticides that might prevent the ants from going to the bait. Remove any repellents you might have placed to try to get rid of the ants. Remember, you are trying to attract ants, if only for a short time.

4. Select ant bait that is right for the type of ants found in your home. Ants are generally categorized as either sugar ants or grease ants, depending on whether they like sweet or greasy food. If you're not sure what type of ants you have, place peanut butter or bacon grease in one small lid, and honey or sugar water in another. Place the lids where you've seen the ants. If the ants are attracted to the honey, use bait that attracts sugar ants. If they liked the peanut butter, use bait that attracts grease ants.

5. Wear gloves or wash your hands before and after placing the bait to avoid contaminating it. Also, do not smoke while baiting, because the odor repels ants.

6. Wait for a nice day to begin baiting. Do not bait before or after a heavy rain.

7. Place the bait in an area where you have seen ants. Make sure the location is out of reach of pets and small children.

8. Be patient. It can take up to a week before you notice the ant bait is working, and three to four weeks before it is effective. However, if you notice that the ants are not going to the bait, you may want to switch to different bait.

9. Replace ant baits every couple of weeks or when they have been consumed. Store unused bait in a cool, dry place in an airtight container.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep ant bait away from children and pets.

References

• Colorado State University Extension; Ants in the Home; W.S. Cranshaw; January 2009
• UC IPM Online; Pests of Homes, Structures, People, and Pets; February 2007
• University of Florida IFAS Extension; Ant Trails: A Key to Management With Baits; John Klotz, et al.; March 1994
• University of Florida IFAS Extension; Ants; P. G. Koehler, et al.; April 1994
• University of Tennessee; Managing Structure-Invading Ants; Karen M. Vail

Resources

• University of Minnesota Extension; What to Do About Household Ants; Jeffrey Hahn, et al.; 1999
• Texas Agricultural Extension Service; House-Infesting Ants; Bastiaan M. Drees, et al.