A fire ant bait is a special kind of insect control product. The bait is designed to be picked up by fire ant workers that are looking for food. Fire ant baits, when applied as directed, pose minimal risk to the environment because they contain such a small amount of active ingredient. Applied properly, a broadcast application may give 80% to 90% control, rarely 100% control.
A fire ant bait has three components:
- A carrier particle
- A food lure (attractant) such as soybean oil
- An active ingredient, an insecticide or insect growth regulator
The food lure entices fire ant workers to pick up the bait particles and carry them back to the colony.
- Some baits contain an insecticide that kills all ants that ingest a sufficient dose, including the workers and the queen.
- Other baits contain a synthetic insect hormone called an IGR (insect growth regulator) that reduces the production of viable eggs and redirects larval development to prevent production of new worker ants. IGR's do not directly kill the queen or the adult workers.
Related Content
- Which bait do I use?
- The Latest Broadcast on Fire Ant Control - Texas AgriLife Extension
- Broadcast Baits for Fire Ant Control - Southern IPM Center
- VIDEO: Broadcast Application of Fire Ants
Find more information about fire ants in eXtension's Imported Fire Ant Resource Area.
