Fire ant baits have been developed to take advantage of the ants' food searching behavior. To be effective, the workers must take bait into the colony and get it to the queen. If the bait works too quickly, the ants die before the bait can be shared with the other ants in the colony. Some baits work faster than others. However, the faster the bait works, the sooner new colonies can reinfest an area. The slowest-acting baits give the longest-lasting control in most situations. Most fast-acting baits kill colonies within 2 to 4 weeks (one bait actually works within a few days). Baits with insect growth regulators (IGR) provide maximum suppression 2 to 6 months after treatment, depending on the environment. See also FAQ #824: "Which bait do I use?"

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