Baits can beapplied by hand if you use protective gloves. Bait productscontain different active ingredients that work inunique ways. It may take 5 to 10 weeks or more tos e the results, but as many as 90 percent of themounds may be eliminated. Control may last up toa year. Some products are formulated a s dusts.
Ants walkon the ground and get dust on their bodies andcarry the insecticide into the mound.
The entire colony should be killed within a few days. To use adust, spread the recommended amount evenly overthe mound. Do not inhale the dust or get it on yourskin. Some chemical products ar e liquid concentrates thatcan be diluted with water and then applied to themound. These liquid mound drenches kill the antsunderground.