The only kind of ant killer I'll buy is on sale for spring — 18 traps are just $16
Spring brings any number of lovely seasonal gifts, like daffodils. Budding trees. Warm, fresh breezes. That glowing ball that's suddenly back in the sky (what's it called again?). But one of the surest signs falls squarely in the "oh, you shouldn't have" category: bugs. Every April, without fail, I notice tiny ants darting around my kitchen counters. And every April, without fail, I slaughter them mercilessly with Terro Ant Killer Bait Stations. Right now, you can get 18 of these all-too-handy helpers for $16, down from $22.
At $16 for 18 bait stations, you aren't even paying a buck apiece for these things — and trust me, they're worth their weight in thousands of tiny ant corpses. (Er, gold. Yeah.) And aside from one quick dip to $14, this is as low as the price has gone in the past year, according to our trackers.
Unexpected ant parades happen to the best of us. This year, I spotted my first tiny visitors the day after Easter, thanks to a slow-cooker insert I'd left in the sink to soak. I was trying to soften up some burned-on mac and cheese, but the ants took that as a belated dinner invitation.
Terro baits are filled with a sweet Borax solution that I liken to an ant Big Mac — they've gotta know it's bad for them, but they're powerless to resist. Plop down a few stations where you see the most action, cut off the plastic tips and wait. The ants will go from chaotically scurrying around your house to zombies that march to and from the bait. Talk about special sauce! (Just make sure the area is clean — you want 'em attracted to the bait and only the bait!) Some of the more gluttonous ants may meet their maker inside the bait stations, captured by the sticky goo. But most will make it out and take their prize back to the colony, where they'll die — but not before poisoning all their little friends. Positively Shakespearean, right? Mwuhahaha.
This process rarely takes more than a few days, and it saves you from resorting to imprecise sprays or expensive pro-grade chemicals you may not want around the house, especially if you have kids or pets.
More than 101,000 ant annihilators sing the praises of Terro bait stations in enthusiastic five-star reviews.
"We have ants year-round," said this harried homeowner. "In the kitchen, in the living room, in the bathroom. We live in the woods... Every day, I sprayed cleaner on the countertops to kill them or just squash them. It was out of control, especially now that it's spring and the weather is warming up. I was at my wits' end. Nightmare horror movie moments. So, after reading all these reviews, I thought I'd give it a try. I set out the baits near my kitchen sink, stove, microwave, under the sink. The first night, nothing. The second day, I noticed they were inside the traps and obsessed with them. Third day, I see maybe two ants. I used to wake up to hundreds of ants all over the kitchen."
"What was amazing to me was after I put the trap down and watched these ants go to it, it was shocking to see them run right back out of the corner of the windowsill," said one intrepid bug battler. "I just watched for a few minutes to see them either get trapped inside the trap or grab some of the food in the trap and run back outside or wherever they came from. And by the end of the day, they were gone."
"We had such a bad ant infestation in our ground-floor apartment and it was terrifying and getting worse by the day!" wrote this earnest entomophobe. "I was pregnant and we have pets and I didn't want to have the maintenance spray everywhere. Also, I don't think spraying fully does the trick as I've read the ants need to bring the bait back to their lair. These ant traps were the most 'natural' I could find and OMG they worked so well! ... I truly thought there was no hope. But these wiped them out in like one weekend! I waited a month or so to write the review to see if they'd come back, but the only sign of them now is in my nightmares!"
"The majority of my ant problem disappeared within three days," said this fan. "The only annoying thing I had to deal with was my cat liked to bat the trap around, so I had to strategically place them under things he could not reach or put heavy objects in front of them." (I also have cats and they mostly ignore these baits, but good tip for pet parents!)
"Some of the contents will seep out a little ... if you are putting on hardwood floors or marble, PLEASE put down something to protect the area first," cautioned a wise buyer. "Tear a page out of a notebook or use a sheet of printer paper to put the bait on. The results are excellent, and the price is absolutely affordable."
Don't want to stare at bait stations? Terro's got you covered there too.
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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16 hours ago
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Ant problem? We interviewed 8 pest-control experts and found the 15 best ant killers
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JT Eaton Eaton's Answer Boric Acid Insecticidal Dust According to Cody James Pace, an associate certified entomologist and market technical director at Terminix, boric acid, made from the same naturally occurring substance in your borax laundry booster, can also kill ants naturally. Shannon Harlow-Ellis, an associate certified entomologist and technical services manager at Mosquito Joe, recommends this boric acid-based powder for fire ant infestations in particular. Heinz Distilled White Vinegar Vinegar doesn't kill ants, Ferrante said, but it can act as a scent disruptor. Mix a 1:1 solution with water and apply it as a natural deterrent that's child- and pet-friendly. Arizona Chemical Group Fipronil Plus C Pest-Control Concentrate Matt Smith, a co-owner of Green Pest Management, said that fipronil-based solutions like this one make effective ant killers that won't put pets at risk. The insecticide 'spreads like a bacteria; it will attach to the arm and leg follicles and spread from one ant to another,' he said. You'll have to dilute this bulk solution (it makes 21 gallons) and apply it using your own spray bottle. Chapin 20000 1-Gallon Sprayer If you go the bulk route and want to mix your own insecticide, you'll need a sprayer. This widely available model comes with a pump and an adjustable nozzle for easy application. Raid Ant & Roach Killer Spray, 2-Pack Bossel said that contact sprays are 'best used as a last resort." But if you need results in seconds, you can try this spray from Raid, which he said 'provides quick knockdown results for visible ants on contact.' First, consider the type of ants you're dealing with. 'Since each species has unique nesting habits and food sources, correctly identifying the type of ant in your home is essential to choosing the most effective control strategy,' Ferrante said. 'For instance, odorous house ants, also known as sugar ants, are typically attracted to sweet bait products and will readily carry options like Terro back to their colony,' he added. 'In contrast, carpenter ants, which are larger and capable of causing structural damage, often require more intensive solutions, such as targeted gel baits or professional-grade treatments. Pavement ants and grease ants tend to respond better to protein- or grease-based baits, as their dietary preferences differ.' Choosing the right product for your space is another consideration, as indoor and outdoor treatments have different formulas. If you're applying poison around pets and children, opt for enclosed bait stations, which Ferrante said 'significantly reduces the risk of accidental contact or ingestion while still allowing ants to access the bait and carry it back to the colony.' Ferrante added that you can also ensure your product works by looking for 'borax, hydramethylnon and indoxacarb' in the ingredients, which are effective pesticides. If all else fails, call a professional. 'There are currently more than 15,500 known species of ant, with an estimated 12,000-plus species not yet identified, so it's important to have a trained expert diagnose your individual case and come up with the best treatment option,' said Frank Meek, an entomologist at Orkin. Prevention is the best way to keep ants at bay in the long term, according to Pace. He offered the following five steps: Keep your space clean: 'Wipe up crumbs, spills and food residue immediately. Store food in airtight containers.' Seal entry points: 'Caulk cracks and crevices around windows, doors and foundations to block ant access.' Remove food: 'Don't leave pet food out for extended periods. Clean up fruit that falls from trees in your yard.' Trim vegetation: 'Trim tree branches and shrubs away from your house, as ants can use them as bridges.' Fix leaks: 'Ants are attracted to moisture, so repair any leaky pipes or damp areas.' The following FAQs have been answered by insect and ant experts Dong-Hwan Choe, Nick Ferrante Jr. and Frank Meek. How do I stay safe while using ant killers? How do I stay safe while using ant killers? Choe said it might be a good idea to wear safety gear — gloves and protective eyewear — while using ant killers. Usually this safety information is printed on the product, he added, but most people make the mistake of not reading or following these instructions. Does vinegar kill ants? Does vinegar kill ants? The experts I spoke to were skeptical about the effectiveness of vinegar as an ant killer, but Ferrante Jr. said it can work as a deterrent. 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For this article, we consulted the following insect and pest-control experts for their professional insights: Allan Bossel, operations expert at Bed Bug Exterminator (BBE) Dong-Hwan Choe, professor of entomology at the University of California, Riverside R. Tracy Ellis, award-winning entomologist at FarmSense Nick Ferrante Jr., associate certified entomologist at Excel Pest Services Shannon Harlow-Ellis, associate certified entomologist and technical services manager at Mosquito Joe Frank Meek, entomologist at Orkin Cody James Pace, associate certified entomologist and market technical director at Terminix Matt Smith, co-owner of Green Pest Management CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. 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