Gellable ant bait matrix
View Patent ↗Ant foods mixed together in a matrix suitable to be used as baits for ants are provided. This ant matrix is preferred by ants over naturally-occurring foods such as other known ant matrices. It comprises protein, carbohydrate, fat and sterol as ant-preferred nutrients and uric acid as a bait enhancing agent is carried in a unique gel system that is specifically attractive to insects. Methods of controlling ants using such matrices to deliver ant toxins are also provided.
1. A gelatinous bait matrix for attracting and killing ants comprising:
a.) water in an amount of 40-70% by weight,
b.) a salt selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, calcium propionate and calcium carbonate in an amount of 0.01-0.5% by weight,
c.) pectin or plant derived polysaccharide in an amount of 30-40% by weight,
d.) a toxicant effective against ants in an amount of about 0.0001% to about 6% by weight, and
e.) an ant attractant in an amount of 20-40% by weight, wherein said attractant comprises:
i.) a cellulose,
ii.) a sugar,
iii.) a plant starch,
iv.) an instant nonfat dry milk,
v.) a dried egg yolk,
vi.) a sterol compound,
vii.) uric acid, and
viii.) a plant based oil.
2. The gelatinous bait matrix for attracting and killing ants of claim 1 wherein the uric acid is present in a concentration of 0.1% to about 1% by weight of ant attractant.
3. A gelatinous bait matrix for attracting and killing ants comprising:
a.)
spring water
about 55.0% by weight,
b.)
calcium chloride
about 0.1% by weight,
c.)
pectin
about 3.0% by weight,
d.)
xanthan gum
about 0.5% by weight,
e.)
boric acid
about 5.0% by weight, and
f.)
ant bait formulation
about 38.9% by weight
said formulation comprising:
i.)
cellulose
about 2.6% by weight,
ii.)
pure grain sugar
about 3.8% by weight,
iii.)
corn starch
about 1.3% by weight,
iv.)
instant nonfat dry milk
about 44.6% by weight,
v.)
dry egg yolk
about 39.0% by weight,
vi.)
ergosterol
about 0.003% by weight,
vii.)
uric acid
about 0.5% by weight, and
viii.)
canola oil
about 3.2% by weight.
4. A gelatinous bait matrix for attracting and killing ants comprising:
a.) water in an amount of 40%-70% by weight,
b.) a salt selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, calcium propionate and calcium carbonate in a concentration of 0.01% to 0.5% by weight,
c.) pectin or plant derived polysaccharide in a concentration of 30% to 40% by weight,
d.) a toxicant effective against ants in a concentration of about 0.0001% to about 6% by weight, and
e.) an ant attractant in a concentration of 20% to 40% by weight, wherein said attractant comprises:
i.) a cellulose in a concentration of 1% to 5% by weight of attractant,
ii.) a sugar component in a concentration of 1% to 10% by weight of attractant,
iii.) a plant starch component in a concentration of 0.5% to 5% by weight of attractant,
iv.) an instant nonfat dry milk in a concentration of 30% to 60% by weight of attractant,
v.) a dried egg yolk in a concentration of 20% to 60% by weight of attractant,
vi.) a sterol compound in a concentration of 0.0001% to 0.01% by weight of attractant,
vii.) uric acid in a concentration of 0.1% to about 1% by weight of attractant, and
viii.) a plant based oil in a concentration of 2% to 15% by weight of attractant.