Homemade Ant Bait
A borax-based bait that eliminates ant colonies at the source
10 min beginner Yields About 1/2 cup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Borax
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 1 cup Warm water
Steps
- Dissolve 2 tablespoons of sugar in 1 cup of warm water.
- Add 2 tablespoons of borax and stir until combined.
- Soak cotton balls in the mixture until saturated.
- Place soaked cotton balls in shallow containers near ant trails and entry points.
- Refresh the bait every few days or when the cotton balls dry out.
Why It Works
Ants carry the borax-laced sugar solution back to the colony via trophallaxis. Over days, the borax disrupts digestive systems throughout the colony, eliminating it at the source.
Alternative
Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth along entry points and ant trails. Its microscopic edges damage ant exoskeletons, causing dehydration. Safe around children and pets but must be reapplied after moisture.
Tips
- Be patient. More ants initially means scouts are recruiting others to the bait.
- Do not kill visible ants — you want them to carry bait back to the nest.
- Place stations along walls and in corners where trails are visible.