Stomach Toxicant

When it comes to pesticides, the way that pests cause harm depends on how they enter the body. Pesticides can either be breathed in by pests, by contact, or via ingestion. Stomach-toxicant pesticides do their main damage upon ingestion or being swallowed or consumed by the target pest.

On this page, you will learn about stomach toxicants, how they work, their benefits, and their effectiveness. Here, you can also shop our top stomach intoxicant products we have available.

What is a Stomach Toxicant?

Stomach toxicants are a type of pesticide that works by entering the target pest's body through feeding and then passing through the digestive system. The pest consumes the poison or has it otherwise absorbed into the body, and the poison eventually kills the pest after some time passes.

Various active ingredients are classified as stomach toxicants, such as malathion, Bacillus thurigiensis (Bt), boric acid, borates, and others. Stomach poisons also often come in different formulations, such as liquids, dust, gel baits, and granules.

How Do Stomach Toxicants Work?

Stomach toxicants work by being ingested by the target pest. If the stomach toxicant comes in liquid or dust form, it is usually applied in areas pests come across during their normal travels and will curiously feed upon. When stomach toxicants come in bait or granule form, they are often mixed with a food ingredient that the pest is attracted to (such as sweets, proteins, and oils) to entice the pest to readily consume it.

Once eaten, the poison travels through the digestive system and begins to affect the pest, harming its insides until it ceases to function and dies.

Benefits of Stomach Toxicant

Stomach toxicants are an effective method of pest control. They do a good job of making a significant dent in large populations of pest invasions. Stomach toxicants come in a variety of formulations and usually have a broad label of pests that they can control. 

Drawbacks of Stomach Toxicant

While Stomach toxicants are effective, they usually work slower to kill pests than contact pesticides and fumigants. For instance, baits for cockroaches and ants are effective, but they don't instantly kill the pests. This is with good reason, however; the slow-acting stomach poison allows pests to share and alert others to the food source available, so more of the population consumes the bait and is poisoned.

Are Stomach Toxicants Safe?

Stomach toxicants are safe to use when applied according to label directions. When mixing or applying the product, it is essential to wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, protective eyewear, and a safety mask. Follow the label carefully, and keep pets and children away from areas where you apply the bait so they do not accidentally pick up and consume the product.

What To Expect

After applying stomach toxicant pesticides, the target pest should die within a few days of consumption. Stomach intoxicant products can stay effective longer as long as the product does not come into contact with elements that can render the product ineffective (water, rainfall, high heat, etc).

As mentioned earlier, stomach toxicants do not deliver an instant kill, and it could take a few days to a couple of weeks of persistent baiting and reapplications for an entire infestation to die out.

Featured Products

Boracare Termite Treatment - is a unique borate-based termiticide, insecticide, and fungicide product that provides prevention and control against termites, wood-destroying beetles, carpenter ants, and decay fungi for up to 30 years.

Ficam Insect Bait -  is a granular insecticide made with orthoboric acid that controls many crawling insects. This product can be applied with a spreader or bulb duster or dispersed from the jug in areas that need treatment.