How Do Ants Become Immune to Terro?
Whether you are trying to keep ants away from your home, or are in need of a quick solution for an ant infestation, it’s important to know what to use. You can use ant baits, which are a safer alternative to chemical control. Alternatively, you can use ant traps, which are a good way to control ants in the home.
Ant baits work by attracting ants to a sweet sticky substance. This attractant can be borax or sugar. Besides attracting ants, the sweet substance also disrupts their digestive systems.
In addition, ants develop antennae to detect a poison. This is because they are constantly exposed to poisons. Some ants even develop their own strategies to protect themselves. The queen, for example, can’t lay eggs if she has already fed the workers.
There are also insecticides that work by killing ants in contact. Some of these, such as Bifenthrin, are liquid-based sprays. These can be used outdoors, near water.
Some insecticides are also effective at controlling ants indoors. They can be used in the form of sprays, gels, or granules. However, they deplete their potency when they come into contact with the soil.
The Terro brand is one of the most popular liquid ant baits. It contains borax, a naturally occurring compound. Boric acid is also used in antifungal and antiseptic solutions. However, borax should be avoided by children and pets. It can cause eye irritation and gastric distress.
Ants are also resistant to some pesticides. Some species have a genetic mutation that allows them to absorb the poison. The same mutation has also allowed ants to live over 140 million years.