Ant infestations can look worse before they get better after bait treatment because foraging workers recruit nestmates to a concentrated food source.

When baiting is done correctly the active workers locate the bait and feed on it repeatedly while carrying portions back to the nest to share with larvae and the queen. This recruitment phase can produce a temporary surge in visible ant numbers at the bait site because the colony is mobilizing its workforce to exploit what it perceives as a rich food source. Effective baits are slow acting so the toxicant can be transferred throughout the colony before workers die, and that delay is why more ants may be seen initially. To use baits successfully place small, clean bait stations near trails, food sources, or nest entrances and replace them only when empty or contaminated; avoid killing workers on contact because that interrupts transfer of the bait. Monitor bait uptake daily and keep records of activity so you can tell whether numbers are declining over a period of days rather than judging treatment by the first twenty four hours. If indoor sanitation is poor, remove alternative food sources and clean sticky residues so ants focus on the bait and the colony can be controlled more predictably.

Common mistakes include spraying contact insecticide over baited areas which kills foragers before they can return bait to the nest and breaks the transfer chain, so do not spray where bait is placed and allow ants to feed; placing too little bait or bait with the wrong food base for the species results in low uptake so switch bait types and increase bait availability until consistent feeding is seen; and assuming visible worker reduction after a day means control so continue to monitor for at least seven to ten days because queens and brood require time to die and nests can persist if treatment is withdrawn prematurely.

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