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Low Toxicity Carpenter Ant Baits

- New baits made specifically for these large ants -

Summary: Baits are now available for carpenter ant control. They are often used in conjunction with more conventional wall void and/or perimeter treatments.

Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
Carpenter ant baits are a relatively new tool in the pest control arsenal. These baits are not the same as baits made for small household nuisance ants and, in fact, nuisance ant baits are generally not useful for carpenter ants.

Carpenter ant baits should be used in conjunction with other more convention control methods. If used alone they may not be 100% effective.
winged & wingless carpenter ants
Winged and wingless carpenter ants (reproductives)
 

Carpenter ant baits are made from some type of attractive food that has an added insecticide. Worker ants find the bait and carry it back to the nest where it is consumed by other ants and the queen thus killing the colony.

The best use of baits may be in situations where conventional insecticides cannot be used. One example might be to use baits indoors where we would not recommend conventional insecticides.

Since carpenter ants often forage indoors during spring, when nests are coming out of winter dormancy, baits could be used to get a start on colony control. Another use is in situations where conventional insecticides can never be used such as around water wells.

Carpenter ant baiting can be a DIY project in conjunction with a more conventional treatment such as wall void or perimeter sprays.

Commercially available carpenter ant baits

There currently are three popular carpenter ant baits (below), two granular formulations and one gel formulation. All three baits are available online. Which one is best? They will probably all work pretty well. Follow package instructions carefully regarding bait placement. As with any insect bait you may need to try more than one product to find the one that works best for you.

Advance Granular Carpenter Ant Bait

The active ingredient in Advance Granular is abamectin. This bait is labeled for use in and around homes and commercial buildings. The bait also labeled for use against nuisance ant species as well.

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Niban Granular Bait

The active ingredient in Niban Granular is borate insecticide in a "weatherized" and moisture-resistant granule. This bait also is labeled for use against a variety of nuisance ants, in addition to carpenter ants. It can also be used for cockroach and silverfish control.

Maxforce Gel Carpenter Ant Bait

The active ingredient in Maxforce Gel is fipronil (same active ingredient as Termidor Insecticide) in a gel formulation that is especially useful for crack and crevice type treatments. As with the other baits this one also controls nuisance ant species. This gel is labeled for outdoor use but requires placement in a bait station.

Mission: To provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information for solving common insect and mite problems around your home, business and landscape using least-toxic methods.

Jack DeAngelis, Ph.D.

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