Best Ant Poisons

Best Ant Poisons

If you have a continuous ant problem, chances are you have not yet found a full-proof solution yet. Perhaps you have tried numerous do it yourself tactics, or you have tried your best to repel and protect.

Preventing ants and other insects from getting into your home is one thing, but defeating the problem altogether is another discussion.

Ant poisons don’t repel ants; they kill them—plain and simple. While that part of the solution is easy enough to figure out, it can be hard to know which product is best for your situation. There are several different types of ant poisons on the market, so we have picked some of the top competitors to aid in your decision-making.

BEST OVERALL

Terro Liquid Ant Baits

Last update on 2023-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Terro Liquid Ant Baits are excellent poisons that work to kill not just the ant you have seen wandering around your kitchen, but the anthill they report back to. The stations contain a liquid bait that attracts the ants. The poison used in them is slow-acting, meaning the ants won’t die instantly.

The slow-acting poison allows the ants time to return to their colony and share the bait and its location with the rest of the members. Eventually, the poison will spread through the colony and to the queen, and your ant problem will be solved.

Terro’s liquid bait stations are very effective and extremely easy to use. The stations have a snap-off tab to create an opening where ants can get in. Once you have removed this tab, you simply need to place the station along the baseboard, near doors, or where ever else you have seen ants gathering.

BEST OUTDOOR

Terro Outdoor Liquid Ant Baits

Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Like their indoor product, Terro’s Outdoor Liquid Ant Baits work to effectively rid you of your ant problem, not just delay their intrusions. These pre-filled stations contain ant bait that attracts ant and slowly kills them with plenty of time for them to tell their colony mates.

What makes these stations different from the indoor versions is that they include a removable stake that can be used to push the stations into the ground, securing them. The stakes can keep them in place and prevent them from getting knocked or kicked over.

Secondly, the stations are weatherproof and are made to resist rain as well as UV rays from the sun. These features let the stations do their job undisturbed, making your life easier.

Since the bait station has a green design, users can place it in the grass for discrete ant elimination. They are very easy to use; users simply need to press down and twist a one-quarter turn. They work best when placed near entry points of your home and where you see the most ants gathering.

BEST FOR FIRE ANTS

Ortho Orthene Fire Ant Killer

Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

An ant problem is one thing, but a fire ant problem can have you in a panic. While household ants tend just to be pesky and annoying, fire ants can be painful and harmful. Fire ants can sting you, and those painful bites will soon turn to irritating, itchy bumps.

The Ortho Orthene Fire Ant Killer is a liquid poison that works by attacking the fire ants right at the source: the anthill. One bottle treats up to 54 mounds and is guaranteed to destroy the mound and kill the queen ant.

Individuals can use Ortho Orthene on lawns and to treat ornamental plants. It requires no watering and needs to be poured directly on the mound.

BEST FOR ANTS AND MORE

Terro Granular Ant Killer Plus

Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Terro’s Ant Killer Plus is a granular formula that kills more than just ants. This pest control is designed to attack and eliminate cockroaches, fleas, and other unwanted insects.

The granules are weather-resistant, so even after a rainfall, they can remain effective. They offer on-contact killing while providing long-lasting residual control, ridding you of your insect problem and keeping it that way long term.

These granules are meant for outdoor use only, but their uniquely-designed shaker bag allows for easy spreading. There is no need for you to touch the granules or purchase a spreader. Easy spreading makes this product good for perimeter control as well as contact killing.

BEST DUST

Terro Ant Killer Dust

Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Terro Ant Killer Dust comes in a convenient and easy-to-use can. The can acts as a shaker, allowing you to sprinkle dust where needed easily. The dust is designed to kill ants on contact. However, the product is also designed to provide residual control for as long as eight months.

Ant killer dust can be used both indoors and outdoors. A waterproof product, this ant killer dust won’t wash away in the rain. It is highly effective on other insects as well, including fire ants, spiders, ticks, and wasps.

The fine dust texture of this product is ideal for cracks and crevices that other products can’t get into. Since it won’t wash away, the product will sit in these places for months to come, providing continuous protection.

Terro dust can be placed practically anywhere: porches, patios, garages, stairways, windows, and doors.

BEST GEL

Optigard Ant Bait

Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Optigard Gel Ant Bait is a powerful and highly attractive formula that targets ants as well as other harmful pests. This ingredient not only attracts ants, but it promotes the spreading of the gel’s active ingredient to the colony.

Good for both indoor and outdoor use, this gel targets and kills common household ants, carpenter ants, and ghost ants. As the ingredient spreads through the colony, more and more ants die, including the queen.

Since this gel comes in a small tube and is easily spreadable, users can spread it in small cracks and crevices where ants and other insects commonly enter the house.

BEST SPRAY

Terro Outdoor Ant Killer Spray

Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

An effective and affordable outdoor poison, the Terro Ant Killer Spray gives users the power of instant contact killing. It is capable of handling carpenter ants, carpenter bees, Asian lady beetles, and even cockroaches.

While the spray is powerful enough to product instant knockouts, it also works as a long-term control. This spray creates barriers that keep bugs out and away from your home. Just spray this formula around windows, doors, and foundations to keep insects from entering.

The aerosol spray reaches up to 10-15 feet. This feature is great for attacking from afar or getting to hard-to-reach spaces. The spray is most effective when ants are active, which is generally in the spring and the fall.

BEST NON-TOXIC

Harris Borax Liquid Ant Killer

Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Harris Borax Liquid Ant Killer is the best non-toxic poison because it uses borax, which is a naturally occurring mineral powder as its active ingredient. This ingredient and the product as a whole is EPA registered and approved, making it safe to use and good for the environment.

This liquid ant killer uses trays that hold the sweet liquid bait. The borax slowly kills the ants, leaving plenty of time for them to report back to their colony and spread the bait. More ants will begin arriving at the bait tray, and soon the whole colony will be affected and eliminated.

Harris’s liquid cleaner works best on sweet eating ants, sometimes referred to as sugar ants. That is why the liquid bait has a sweet flavor—it will attract more of these kinds of ants, which are commonly found in households.

To use, you pour the liquid formula into a tray and place it where you have seen the ants in your house. Bait will kill any single ant within 48 hours, but it can take up to two weeks to destroy the whole colony.

Additional Information

It can be very helpful to have the right knowledge for a better understanding of ants and the products used to kill them. However, it can be hard to find the right information quickly. For that reason, we have listed some commonly asked questions concerning ant poison to help further educate you on the topic.

What’s the difference between ant poison and ant repellent?

There is a big difference between ant poison and repellent. An ant repellent works to deter or repel ants and other insects from coming into your home. Ant repellents are often used to create barriers or perimeters that keep ants out and prevent larger problems.

Ant poisons don’t just keep ants away; they kill them. Some ant poisons work at the point of contact, such as a spray that kills a group of ants on your counter. Other ant poisons work by eliminating an entire colony rather than the small amount you see.

If you’re having a continuous ant problem, you’ll probably want to go for an ant poison that targets a colony.

How does a poison eliminate a colony?

Ant poisons, often in the form of bait or bait stations, work because of the ants’ social system. Different ants within a colony have different jobs. The female worker ants leave the anthill and find food. When they find food, they bring it back to feed others—including the queen. They also lead more workers back to the food source for more.

Baits and poisons play off of this system. Baits are designed to attract ants. Using various active ingredients, the baits poison the ants. These poisons work slowly, killing the ants over a couple of days. Since the poison works slowly, the ants have time to go back and distribute the poison to the colony, as well as lead more ants to the poison.

At first, you will definitely see more ants than you had. Don’t be alarmed—that means it’s working. Shortly after that, usually within two weeks, the colony should be eliminated along with your ant problem.

Should assorted products be used for different ants?

While many products will work for various kinds of ants and even other insects, like our reviewed Terro Granular Ant Killer Plus, certain kinds of ants should be targeted with more specific poisons.

For example, a sweet liquid bait station won’t do any good against carpenter ants, as they are interested in wood and not sweet things. In the same way, fire ants do not typically run towards sweet items and may not be attracted to a sweet bait.

Carpenter ants, like termites, like to eat through wooden structures. They can dig all sorts of tunnels in your wood, making them hard to reach. For a problem like this, you may want to find a poison that specifically targets carpenter ants.

It is very important to pay attention to whether a product is specified as being outdoor, indoor, or both. Some outdoor products are only intended to be used outside of the house due to their formulas and ingredients.

Likewise, other products work best inside the house, such as indoor bait stations. Be sure to pick a product that will work best for your situation.