Place commercial bait stations (Terro, Advion)

What to Do

Place pre-filled bait stations along ant trails, near entry points, and where you see the most activity. For sugar ants, Terro liquid bait (borax-based) is highly effective. For broader species coverage, Advion gel bait (indoxacarb) works against both sugar-feeding and protein-feeding species.

Why It Works

Commercial baits use slow-acting active ingredients — fipronil, indoxacarb, hydramethylnon, or borax — that workers carry back to the colony and share through mouth-to-mouth feeding (trophallaxis). This eliminates the queen and the entire colony over 1-3 weeks, not just the visible foragers.

Tips

• Expect increased ant activity around bait stations for the first few days — this is normal and means ants are feeding
• If no improvement after one week, the species may prefer a different bait type (switch between sugar and protein)
• Tamper-resistant stations are safer around children and pets
• Cost: $10-30 per package