Ant
There are a number of small, nuisance ants that invade kitchens and homes that can be managed safely with baits if the infestation is not too large. Baits are made from sugar and some type of slow acting insecticide. The idea is that ants find the sugary bait and have time to carry some back to the nest before the insecticide goes to work. Ant killer baits can be purchased ready-made, or can be homemade from a sugary base plus borate insecticide. Other great method features bait combining two key ingredients–something to attract ants and something to repel them. By using these baits, you can rid your home of many varieties of ants.
Borax is a great tool for anyone fighting an insect infestation. The name-brand laundry booster, available in most grocery stores, features boron, which kills ants, cockroaches, silverfish and termites. The first use of borates as an insecticide was in 1922, when P.F. Harris invented a tablet to kill roaches that featured boric acid. By 1985, more than 200 registered pesticide products contained borates. Research indicates that boric acid attacks ants and other insects by affecting their nervous systems and drying out their bodies. Borax comes in a powder form. It is odorless and does not leave stains.
Borax, though, is not approved as a pesticide by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As well, the manufacturers of the product, the Dial Corporation, recommend that you keep Borax out of reach of pets and children. Borax, though, is not the same as boric acid. Borax is composed of boron, sodium, oxygen and water. Boric acid is a poisonous substance formed by combining Borax with sulfuric acid.
The homemade bait consists of a liquid sugar base and boric acid. Corn syrup, such as Karo Syrup ™, makes an excellent base for the bait. A small amount of vegetable oil can be added to the syrup for times when ants seems to be more interested in fats than sugars. You’ll need to adjust the fat/sugar ratio depending on your own observations. Most of the time 100% syrup baits work fine. If ants seem to be ignoring the bait stations try adding a little vegetable oil. Commercial ant baits vary in concentration of boric acid between 1-5%. Available sources of boric acid sources include boric acid insecticidal dusts, and products like TimBor Insecticide. Any of these sources are nearly pure boric acid, or borate salt.
Example ant bait recipes:
1. mix: 1/4 teaspoon TimBor (0.5g) + 1 tablespoon of corn syrup (10g)
2. mix: 1/8 teaspoon boric acid dust insecticide (0.5g) + 1 tablespoon of corn syrup (10g)
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