What’s the best carpenter ant bait on the market? Everyone has their own creature control techniques, but what is the greatest option available?
Carpenter ants are problems for many people in Nebraska, but not every product works the same to remove their ranks. What’s the best carpenter ant bait for you? Keep reading to find out what you should use to eliminate the stubborn carpenter ants eating up your home or yard!
If you’re having trouble with ants or any other common creepy crawlies, Recon Pest Services is here to help. Servicing the greater Omaha & Lincoln areas, we have the skills and tools to eliminate your pest problems. Contact us today for a free quote!
Best Carpenter Ant Bait
It’s important to note that carpenter ants react to bait in similar ways to most other ants that American homeowners will encounter. Many people find that carpenter ants are especially difficult to get rid of because they typically establish their nests within the structure of a house. This means that they can be difficult to reach with traditional methods like sprays and powders.
Bait is, therefore, often seen as the best method for getting rid of carpenter ants because it allows you to target the entire nest at once. Carpenter ants are especially attracted to protein-based baits, so you’ll want to look for products that contain active ingredients like boric acid, spinosad, or abamectin.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth, which is both organic and non-toxic, is a popular choice for individuals interested in a safe DIY solution. When eaten, food-grade diatomaceous earth won’t make you sick. You won’t have to worry about your pets or youngsters getting ill!
Diatomaceous earth is an environmentally friendly way to kill pests. The powder made of sharp, microscopic diatoms tears an insect’s exoskeleton and causes it to dehydrate.
If you come across an ant mound outside, cover it with diatomaceous earth. This powder should be able to disrupt their ranks quickly! Mix sugar with your diatomaceous earth to attract ants. Sugar attracts ants, so adding some sweets to the powder may entice any pests seeking out their next meal.
Diatomaceous earth isn’t healthy to breathe in, so use appropriate protection while distributing the powder around your property or yard. Like its corrosive effects on insects, it can cause minor lung irritation or breathing difficulties.
Diatomaceous earth is the best ant bait when you’re looking for a natural solution, but it still has limitations. Its effectiveness wanes when wet, so avoid using this in areas that stay damp.
Diatomaceous earth, unlike other pest control methods, takes time to work. You may not see results for a few days or weeks, so if you want a fast solution, consider utilizing another pest control alternative!
Borax
Borax is a DIY alternative that you may already have in your home, and it’s frequently seen in laundry rooms. Typically, borax is used to clean up indoors, refresh smelly shoes, or unclog drains!
Many home-made pest control solutions include borax, which is also a frequent and useful component. For ants, borax slowly poisons and destroys their bodies, allowing you to get rid of the colony as well as foraging pests all at once!
In order for the ants to be attracted to the bait, something sweet like sugar or honey must be mixed in. Depending on the type of bait you’re wanting to use, you can experiment with different mixtures.
Mixing sugar with borax to create a consistent powder. If mixed well, the sugar should mask the scent and texture of the borax. To create an easy-to-carry paste for the ants, add water and honey to the borax, and place them on a shallow dish or plate.
Both options work well, so test each method and choose the best alternative. If the ants like your mixture, you should notice a decrease in ant activity indoors and outdoors!
While borax effectively eliminates ants, it’s more toxic than diatomaceous earth. Avoid consuming the powder or mixture, and keep your little ones far away from your bait. Make sure your furry friends can’t get too close, either!
Is Baking Soda an Effective Carpenter Ant Bait?
Typically associated with fluffy cakes and bright smiles, baking soda is also a popular ingredient for DIY pest treatments. But does this simple powder actually work?
Simply put, no!
Baking soda will not get rid of a large ant infestation, despite what some people may say. Baking soda cannot kill ants like borax or diatomaceous earth can, and is actually harmless to them.
When mixed with sugar or another sweet treat, the baking soda will become a highly sought food source for the little pests in your home. Instead of eliminating the ants, you’ll only further encourage the infestation!
We suggest trying out another method for any DIY pest control treatments and leaving your baking soda inside the pantry.
Store Bought Gel Baits
Is the best ant bait found on your local hardware store shelf?
Store-bought products offer common and affordable fixes for small-scale infestations. Ant baits are effective for home defense in a variety of situations. When ants invade homes, homeowners will generally use gel ant bait around entry points or areas where ants congregate in kitchens, bathrooms, and pantries.
Since many gel baits work slowly, it could take a few weeks to see earnest results. The foraging ants who consume the bait and bring provisions back to the colony will spread the poison, gradually killing everyone in the nest.
Bait exterminators may claim to eliminate ants rapidly, but we advise doing your homework before buying the first product that comes to mind. Insects are resistant to many commercial chemicals, so do your research and consider all of your choices before emptying your wallet.
Depending on the location and scale of your infestation, store-bought ant baits could be unnecessary or ineffective. Plus, the active ingredient in some ant bait is something you may already have access to, aka borax.
Spinosad
Spinosad, a natural fermentation product, is one of the most effective ingredients in store-bought ant baits. It works by causing muscle contractions that eventually lead to the death of an insect.
The sugar in store-bought gels also attracts ants, but it’s not necessary to see results. Spinosad alone will be enough to kill the pests that come into contact with it!
Abamectin
Abamectin is a synthetic, broad-spectrum antibiotic derived from avermectin (a drug commonly used as an anti-parasitic). While abamectin is effective against many household pests, it’s not always the best choice for ant baits.
The main concern with abamectin is its potential toxicity to humans and animals. If ingested, abamectin can cause serious health problems in people and pets, so use caution when handling any products that contain it.
If you have young children or pets in your home, we suggest avoiding products with abamectin altogether.
How Do I Know What’s the Best Ant Bait?
Choosing the right bait is difficult, but we’re here to help!
If you have a minor infestation and also have children or pets, diatomaceous earth is an excellent way to get rid of insects. It may take ants a little longer to vanish, but you don’t need to fret about anyone in your home becoming ill!
If you have ants in your kitchen or bathroom, borax is a great option. It’s typically inexpensive and just as effective as name-brand ant baits and poisons.
Another popular option is gel ant baits, but we recommend consulting with a pest control professional if you have a severe insect infestation. When ants invade your property, a good company can remove the ants inside and prevent them from returning outdoors!
We hope this article helps you fight your ant invasion! If you’ve tried all this and still need help, Recon Pest Services is here for your pest control needs. Contact us today!
