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Bait Formulations for Fire Ant Management

Last Updated: March 11, 2010

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 All bait formulations consist of an attractant soaked into a carrier particle. The conventional formulation uses soybean oil soaked into de-fatted processed corn grit. The active ingredient is dissolved in the attractive oil, which is consumed by worker ants. It is returned to the ant colony and fed to the workers, the brood (larvae), the queen(s), and the winged reproductive male and female ants. If the oil becomes stale or rancid due to exposure to air over a period of time, the bait particle becomes unattractive to foraging ants and treatment will be ineffective. For this reason, use of a fresh and properly stored product is essential. It is advisable to work closely with your distributor to assure the product is fresh. Avoid mixing bait with seed or fertilizer since this causes bait particles to lose attractiveness. Other formulations using different attractants, carriers, and use rates are also available.

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