Granular Baits

Granular baits are one of the most versatile pesticide formulations in the pest control industry. You can use granular baits to treat all kinds of pests that are found on your residential or commercial property. Granular baits are especially good because it kills irritating pests before they even get a chance to try and make their way indoors.

For outdoor pest control treatments, especially for lawn pests like ants and other pests which forage around on your grass, we highly recommend granular baits as an effective form of control.

On this page, we will touch on the benefits of granular baits, how they are formulated, and how to properly apply these products to achieve the best possible results. You can also shop the best granular bait formulations we carry in stock here at Solutions Pest & Lawn.

What is an Insecticide Granular Bait?

Granular bait formulations are insecticide products that are manufactured in a solid granule form as opposed to liquid or another formulation. Granule bait consists of a solid particle that contains an insecticide impregnated into the granule as well as attractants and food particles for the target insects.

The type of insecticide inside a granule bait can vary, from more natural ingredients such as boric acid or diatomaceous earth to synthetic or man-made insecticide materials such as synthetic pyrethroids and neonicotinoids.

With just a little bit of preparation, granular bait insecticides can be the safest way for you to eliminate many pests in your lawn and garden.

Conditions for Using Granular Baits

Granular insecticide baits are usually used to spot treat for ants or other pests such as on your lawn or garden or as preventative treatments around structures. However, for best possible results it is wise to spread the granule bait over an entire area where the insects forage for food. The most effective way to apply the granules to your yard is to use a granule spreader.

Once the granules have been spread out over the targeted areas, it is advisable to leave the insects be and not to disturb the insects. You need the insects to go about their regular foraging routine and not attack them when they are seen and let the natural process of taking the insecticide bait (which they believe to be their next meal) play out.

Ants and other insect pests which come into contact with the particles will be poisoned, but insects that do not find them or eat them will not be affected. Insecticide bait granules are slower acting than most pesticides because they require the insects to bring them back to the nest for best results. Because of that, we typically say insecticide baits can take up to 2 weeks to completely eliminate an infestation.

Benefits of Using Granular Baits

Insecticide granules come ready to use with no mixing required. The granular formulation is very safe to use and typical personal protective equipment requirements are less necessary with them where only gloves are necessary as opposed to a mask and other PPE.

Granular baits are extremely versatile as they can eliminate a variety of different outdoor pests. Most granular baits are labeled to kill cockroaches, crickets, silverfish, ants as well as slugs and snails.

Another great thing about granular baits is that they are mostly weather resistant. No matter the conditions outside, they will keep working great. Granular baits can be used in a hot wet environment outside and be fine. If you’ve recently gone through 4 inches of rain the stuff stays solid and it's not going anywhere. If you put granular baits into cracks and crevices, it’s going to be there for a long long time.

You can use granular bait through dusting machines, you can put it in cracks and crevices, you can spread it on the ground according to the label, you can even use granular bait inside of bait stations that are being produced now in order to give perimeter control of the structures. Granular bait material is not going to lose efficacy if it gets exposed to the environment inside or outside.

Finally, granules are an effective way to eliminate insects because the poison drops through the foliage to the ground below where the insects are and are brought back to the nest for complete colony control.

Granular Bait Drawbacks

Granules are typically more expensive than liquid treatments. They also are much slower to act than other formulations. Granules require different application equipment than liquids.

Granular baits are typically not recommended to be used indoors. Indoor baits are usually reserved for gel baits and powder baits especially to eliminate ants and cockroaches which have infested the home.

Our Recommendations

Ficam Insect Bait - Ficam is a granular insect bait for the control of many crawling pests. It is specially formulated for weather resistance and can be applied as a broadcast granular bait around the home or in bait stations inside the home. It is effective against roaches, crickets, silverfish, and other listed insects.

Tools Needed

Often granular baits are ready to use and come in a container where you just shake the granules out where you would like to, but it is recommended to use a granule spreader or duster to apply the product more precisely.

User Guide

Step 1: Check the Label and Measure the treatment area

Read the label on the insecticide bait to determine the proper usage and placement. You should also determine how much granules you will need to cover the entire treatment area by calculating the square footage of the application site. You can do this by measuring (in feet) and multiplying the area length times the width.

Step 2: Apply Granules

Apply the granules to the target area. There are two methods for applying granular insecticide baits. You can create a continuous barrier around the structure as a preventative or you can apply the granular directly to the infestation area (broadcast or targeted in bait stations).

Step 3: Patience

Do not disturb the insects from collecting and eating the granules for up to a week after application. The most important this is to NOT spray insecticides over the granular bait or the insects will not eat it. It would be like someone spraying your dinner with insecticide, you wouldn't eat it either.

Key Takeaways

• Granular baiting is an effective method of treating pests, especially those located outdoors around your home or building.
• Granular bait is slow-acting so that the insect will take the bait back to the colony and infect the others in the nest, creating a domino effect.
• Ficam Insect Bait is our top recommendation for granular baiting because of its ease of use, affordable cost and broad label of control.