I've been using TERRO Liquid Ant Killer Bait Stations for a few years now, and I can honestly say they're great. Before these came along, I used the version that came as a small bottle of liquid you'd place on a little cardboard target included with the product. That liquid worked fine, but I was always a little nervous about my dog or kids accidentally getting into it since it was just sitting out in the open.

Why the bait stations are the better version
The bait stations solve that problem by sealing the liquid inside a small plastic housing. Ants can still get in and reach the bait, but there's no exposed liquid sitting around the house for a curious kid or pet to touch. It's a simple design change, but it made a real difference in how comfortable I feel placing these around the house instead of tucking the old open bottles somewhere out of reach.

How it actually works
In my experience, it takes a few days before you start seeing results, and that's normal, not a sign it isn't working. Once the ants find the bait, it's basically game over for the colony. They form a trail to the station and start carrying the liquid back to the nest to share with the rest of the colony. After a few days of that, you'll notice the ants visibly thinning out until there's barely any activity left at all.

What it costs
These typically run somewhere around $7 to $9 for a 6-pack depending on where you buy them, which makes them an easy, low-cost thing to keep on hand. It's not a big investment for something that actually solves an ant problem instead of just knocking down the ants you can see.

The Good
- Sealed bait stations keep the liquid away from curious kids and pets, unlike the old open bottle and cardboard target setup
- Genuinely eliminates the colony instead of just killing the ants you can see
- Easy to place almost anywhere ants are showing up, no setup involved
- Inexpensive for how effective it is
- Long shelf life, so it's easy to just keep a few on hand for whenever ants show up


The Bad
- Takes a few days to see results, so it's not an instant fix if you want ants gone immediately
- You'll often see more ants at first as they discover the bait, which can be alarming if you don't know that's expected
- Not much you can do to speed up the process once the stations are placed, it just takes the time it takes


If you're dealing with ants and want something that actually clears out the colony rather than just the ants on your counter, TERRO Liquid Ant Killer Bait Stations are worth keeping in the house.