Unlike contact killers, which only target visible worker ants on your property, these baits include slow-acting ingredients that have a delayed effect on the ant's digestive system. This deliberate kill method lets the foragers feed and return to the colony where they can spread the bait to the young and queen, eliminating the outdoor population before it can enter your home. During this time, the number of ants may increase as they swarm to feed on the sweetened liquid before they begin disappearing altogether.