Ant Bait Choices
Learn about the different types of ant bait to determine which ant baits are right for you.
Which Ant Baits Do I Choose?
Below is a summary of ant baits recommended for the smaller household ants, Fire ants, and the larger Carpenter Ants. These are baits that are effective for the Argentine, Carpenter, Ghost, Fire, Odorous, Pharaoh, and Pavement Ants when they are on the sugar/carbohydrate or protein/grease feeding cycles.
These ants will be attracted to one or the other type of baits, according to the dietary needs of the ant colony. Most of these baits are broad-spectrum baits (these baits work for many types of ants ), but some ant baits have exclusions on certain types of ants. Please read the product descriptions or give us a call. We have kits that combine sweet baits with protein baits for greater savings.
- When in doubt of which one to choose, pick one from each category. We also carry baits that feed both cycles (the baits in this category are not as effective as the specified single sweet or protein lure type baits).
- Do not use a residual repellent type of spray near ants in order to avoid contamination. Using a non-repellent residual spray like Phantom Aerosol or Spectre PS Aerosol would be fine.
- We also carry fire ant baits, some slow-acting but long-lasting and some faster-acting bait, but with shorter residual activity.
Popular Ant Baits
Recommended Ant Baits (General Ants)
(See descriptions for ant type exceptions.)
Sweet/Carbohydrate Feeding Cycles
Advion Ant Bait Gel ( Top Recommendation) (for many types of ants feeding on sugar or looking for moisture-highly attractive) Advion Ant Bait Gel maintains its integrity for a long period of time, killing the entire colony. It contains Indoxocarb, a non-repellent active ingredient.
Optigard Ant Bait Gel (Top Recommendation) (for sugar feeding cycles excludes fire, harvester, and pharaoh ants)
The powerful, slow-acting non-repellent active ingredient, thiamethoxam in Optigard ant gel knocks out workers, brood, and queens.
Intice Gelanimo Ant
Bait for sweet cycles-not messy, particularly good for Odorous Ants).A distinctive
feature of Intice Gelanimo Gel Bait is that it can hold its shape for up to 130 degrees F.
Protein and Grease Feeding Cycles
(Top Recommendation)
Advance 375 A Ant
Bait (for protein/grease feeding cycles)
(Top Recommendation)
Advion Ant Bait Arena
(for protein/grease cycles) This is a very complete bait that destroys the entire colony.
Ant Bait Kits (General Ants)
See descriptions for ant type exceptions.
Ant Baits-Both sugar based and protein based
See description below for recommendations and exclusions.
Advion Ant Kit-perfect combo of both types of baits. The Advion Ant Bait Kit is excellent for Pharaoh Ants and a broad spectrum of ants, but excludes Carpenter Ants.
Complete Ant Bait Kit contains both a protein/grease bait and a sweet/carbohydrate based bait. The Complete Ant Bait Kit is effective on Argentine, Odorous House, Ghost, Pavement, and little black ants.(Excludes Carpenter ants and Pharaoh ants).
Recommended Ant Baits (Carpenter Ants)
Sweet Based Carpenter Ant Baits
Maxforce Fleet Ant Gel (for sweet feeding cycles) for carpenter ants are excellent baits. This fast-acting bait works on Acrobat ant, Argentine ant, big-headed ant, carpenter ant, cornfield ant, field honey ant, odorous house ant, pavement ant, pharaoh ant, and thief ants.
Optigard Ant Bait Gel (for sugar feeding cycles excludes fire, harvester and pharaoh ants)
The powerful, slow acting non repellent active ingredient, thiamethoxam in Optigard ant gel knocks out workers, brood and queens.
Protein Based Carpenter Ant Bait and Carpenter Ant Bait Kits
Advance375 A Ant Bait (for protein/grease feeding cycles)
Carpenter Ant Bait Kits combine both Advance 375A and Maxforce Fleet Ant Bait Gel for the most effective control of carpenter ants.
These kits are the best choices for Carpenter Ants. They also work for Acrobat ant, Argentine ants, big-headed ants, cornfield ant, field honey ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants, pharaoh ants, thief ants
These kits come in a small size and large size, as well as DIY Complete Carpenter Ant Bait Kit (an excellent non-repellent insecticide to spray the perimeter outside.
Ant Baits Recommended For Fire Ant Control
Generally, Fire ant queens need a huge amount of protein bait to produce eggs. The products below meet these criteria.
Advion Fire Ant Bait controls ants within 24-72 hours. It is one of the fastest acting and most effective on the market today.
Extinquish Plus Fire Ant Bait kills ant colonies completely. It contains an IGR, which stops the growth cycle and a slow-acting stomach poison. It is a slow-acting bait; you can combine it with Acephate Pro 75 SP in the Texas 2 Step Fire Ant Bait Kits for faster results.
Acephate Pro 75 SP is a quick acting fire ant bait that works on many types of mound dwelling ants. You can sprinkle it around the mounds or mix it with water and treat around ant mounds.
Written by our resident pest control expert Ken Martin.
