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How to Poison Ants With Boric Acid and Sugar

Boric acid, which doubles as an antiseptic, can be found in many drug stores. It is also a key ingredient in a home remedy that can kill ants. The powder alone is bitter, and ants will avoid it. However, ants seek will eat sugar-laden foods and even carry them back to the nest. Mixing the boric acid with sugar will trick to ants into eating the poison and sharing it with other ants.

Things You'll Need

Pot
Cotton balls
Jar lids

Instructions

- 1
  Heat 3 cups of water in the pot.
- 2
  Add 1 cup of sugar and 4 tsp. of boric acid powder to the water.
- 3
  Stir until the mix is completely dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool enough to handle the liquid safely.
- 4
  Place one or two cotton balls in the inverted jar lids. Saturate the cotton with the mixture.
- 5
  Place the jar lids along ant trails or where ants have been seen.
- 6
  Replenish the liquid as it dries until the ants are gone. The humidity of the area will determine how long the bait stays wet.

Insects & Science