Agricultural Research Service

August 17, 1999

The invention relates to a water soluble attractant bait composition to control multiple pest ant species. Social insects such as ants, wasps, and termites have well-developed foraging mechanisms. These pests are treated by dispersing attractant-containing bait formulation in the vicinity of nests, in urban or rural areas, or anywhere pest social insects are a problem. The composition, which includes a sugar and a salt or base, and water, attracts both oil-loving and sweet-loving ants, and is especially useful with water soluble or suspendable toxicants, while commercially available baits are targeted to only one type of pest species such as oil-loving or sweet-loving insects, but not both. Various ant species pose significant problems for man from both an agricultural and health care point of view.

Karen M. Vail MAVE Research Laboratory 1600 S.W. 23rdDrive Gainesville, FL 32608 (904) 374-5985 / Fax: (904) 374-5818	David F. Williams (Same address as first inventor) (904) 374-5982 / Fax: (904) 374-5818
	David H. Oi (Same address as first inventor) (904) 374-5946 / Fax: (904) 374-5818

insect control, detection, attractant, ants, wasps, termites, environment