Abamectin

Baits beat sprays for ants

UC IPM calls baits the key tool for ants: slow-acting insecticides let foragers carry bait back to queens and larvae, and abamectin is one of the common bait actives along with borates, fipronil and hydramethylnon.^[3]

Where it is used

Place baits by ant trails or close to where ants are active; don't place them on food-preparation surfaces while food is being handled or on utensils.^[1]

Don't use residual sprays on or near the baits, which repel or kill the foragers that carry bait home.^[1][3]

Expect less activity in about a week as ants feed and share the bait.^[1]

Pair baits with cleanup: wipe up spills, store food sealed, avoid mulch against the foundation and caulk ant entry points.^[1]

Products and registrations

Label rates

How to apply it, step by step

Steps for Raid Ant Baits III (Raid REK, 0.01% abamectin bait stations), EPA Reg. No. 4822-529, taken from its label^[1]. Other products with this active ingredient have their own labels; follow yours.

1. Protective gear

• The label lists no protective gear: it is harmful if absorbed through the skin and causes moderate eye irritation, so avoid touching the bait and wash with soap and water after handling.^[1]
• The baits come in child-resistant packaging, but don't let children or pets play with them; the label notes they may contain peanuts or peanut by-products.^[1]

2. Before you spray

• It is for household use indoors where you've seen ants, including kitchens, bathrooms and inside cabinets.^[1]
• Don't use residual sprays on or near the baits; ants need to reach them and carry bait back to the nest.^[1]

3. Mixing

• No mixing: break the bait stations apart from the plastic frame before placing them.^[1]

4. Applying

• Use all the baits at once. With a 12- or 18-count pack, the label puts 10 in the kitchen and 2 in each bathroom; for large kitchens or heavy infestations it suggests 12 to 15 in the kitchen, 2 to 4 per bathroom, and 2 to 4 more in any other room with ants.^[1]
• Set them on flat surfaces against walls: along baseboards, in corners, under sinks, in cabinets and near plumbing fixtures. On a wall or under a countertop, use the included adhesive on a clean, smooth, dry surface (not wallpaper, unpainted drywall, antiques or unfinished wood).^[1]
• They may go near food or on food-preparation surfaces, but not while food is being handled, and never on dishes, utensils or food containers.^[1]

5. After you spray

• Ants start feeding right away; expect fewer ants within days and less activity in about a week. Don't let the baits be eaten completely.^[1]
• Replace all the baits every three months to keep ants from coming back, more often for heavy infestations.^[1]

First aid

• In the eyes, hold them open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15 to 20 minutes, removing contact lenses after the first 5 minutes; on skin or clothing, take off contaminated clothing and rinse for 15 to 20 minutes.^[1]
• Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice, with the package in hand.^[1]

Storage, spills and disposal

• Store them in a cool, dry place children can't reach, and not above 130°F.^[1]
• Don't reuse a bait station: put used ones in the trash or recycling; for unused product, call your local solid waste agency or 1-800-529-3394, and never put it down a drain.^[1]

From the safety data sheet

From the product's safety data sheet^[4]. Where it and the label differ, the label is the law.

• The SDS uses the signal word Warning because the bait may cause an allergic skin reaction.^[4]
• Avoid contact with skin, eyes and clothing, keep the baits out of reach of children, and read the label before use.^[4]
• If medical advice is needed, have the product container or label at hand.^[4]
• Sweep up spilled bait into a suitable container for disposal and clean the residue from the spill site.^[4]
• Store baits in a dry, cool, well-ventilated place away from food, drink and animal feed.^[4]

Need the amount for your sprayer? Use the mixing calculator, which works from the same label rates.

Safety and environmental hazards

People

Signal word CAUTION; the stations are child-resistant, and the label says to keep them out of reach of children and not let children or pets play with them.^[1]

Pets

Don't let pets play with the baits; place stations where pets can't reach them.^[1][3]

Bees and pollinators

Used indoors in enclosed stations, away from flowering plants.^[1]

Fish and water

The consumer label is for indoor household use in enclosed bait stations.^[1]

Common questions

How long do Raid Ant Baits last?

The label says to replace all baits every three months, or more often for heavy infestations.^[1]

Why do I see more ants at first?

Ants are attracted to the bait and recruit others to feed; activity should drop in about a week as the bait spreads through the colony.^[1][3]

Can I spray ant killer around the baits?

No. The label advises against using residual sprays on or near the baits.^[1]

Sources

1. U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Raid Ant Baits III (Raid REK) label, EPA Reg. No. 4822-529 (EPA-stamped, Feb. 8, 2019).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/004822-00529-20190212.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
2. Insecticide Resistance Action Committee, “IRAC Mode of Action Classification Scheme, Version 11.5 (Feb. 2026).” irac-online.org/documents/moa-classification/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
3. University of California Statewide IPM Program, “Ants (Pest Notes, Home and Landscape).” ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/ants/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
4. S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., “RAID Ant Baits III Safety Data Sheet (S.C. Johnson & Son, version 0.0, printed September 6, 2016; EPA Reg. No. 4822-529, the label on this page; copy hosted by WebstaurantStore).” argo.webstaurantstore.com/documents/sds/raid_ant_traps_sds.pdf (accessed 2026-10-17)