Updated On

January 1, 2024

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    AMDRO Ant Bait remains one of the most recommended products on the market and enjoys a stellar reputation because of its quality and efficiency at killing ants. It uses lethal combination of potent insecticides and attractants designed to kill all of the ants in a colony, including the queen.

    AMDRO claims that its bait can kill over 14 species of ant and is effective at wiping out colonies within a week. Is this true? That is what this review aims to find out.

    Below is an in-depth product review that aims to find out just how effective AMDRO Ant Bait really is.


    The Rating

    AMDRO is one of the biggest names in the industry and offers a variety of ant bait products to catch pests indoors and out. The main bait trap for use is the AMDRO Ant Bait Granules. The granules were designed for exterior use, and can be scattered around the perimeter of a property to prevent pests from pervading a place.

    Many people like to combine the granules with bait stations because they can be placed in out-of-the-way locations, indoors, like cabinets. They are also one of the more affordable options for individuals hoping to get rid of ants. But do the stations really kill the entire colony?

    AMDRO Ant Bait use the active ingredient Hydramethylnon, which works as a slow-acting toxin that needs to be ingested. Over time, it will kill an entire colony of ants.

    Unfortunately, for many consumers, this length of time could be one week or more. While AMDRO Ant Bait is a competent product, many people might not be willing to wait for it to work, especially when pests are a consistent problem.

    Today’s Homeowner Rating

    “Despite taking some time to work, AMDRO Ant Bait is a premium ant treatment that owners should consider to protect their homes.”


    The Key Features

    There are a few precautions you should follow when using AMDRO granules, but all you have to do is carefully pour it around the perimeter of your home. Just make sure that any animals or children don’t touch or eat it, and make sure to apply it on dry ground.

    After that, you can just let it sit and do its job!

    Check out Amdro’s video to help with bait placement and ant removal success.

    Unlike some other pesticides, the granules only need to be applied once to be effective. Ants will pick up the bait and bring it back to their colony, where they will share it and kill the population. All you have to do is use it once to stop an existing colony.

    Afterwards, it’s safe to reapply the granules at any time to prevent future threats to your home.

    The product specializes in eliminating carpenter ants, but also works on 14 other species: Texas leafcutting ants, acrobat ants, Argentine ants, bigheaded ants,  cornfield ants, crazy ants, field ants, fire ants (imported and native), ghost ants, harvester ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants, Pharaoh ants, and thief ants

    Ants don’t grow resistant to AMDRO, so it can be used multiple times throughout the year. Most ant colonies will also not make the connection between the bait and their dead comrades.

    AMDRO granules can also be applied throughout the year to defend your home, so it offers protection from future ant invasions.

    Unlike other pesticides, AMDRO and its main ingredient have very low environmental toxicity. This means it is less likely to damage the environment than other products because the ingredient breaks down and leaves behind almost no residue. Its toxic effects can also be severely dampened by water.


    The Review

    When evaluating products, we use five criteria:

    • Company Reputation
    • Active Ingredient
    • Easy Of Use
    • Pet and Child Safety Rating
    • Overall Effectiveness

    Reputable Company/Customer Service:

    American Cyanamid, now called Ambrands, manufactures AMDRO and has since 1978. The company possesses a stellar reputation and responds quickly to its customers when they call with questions, complaints, or queries about products.

    The company operates out of the United States and specializes in the creation of agricultural chemicals and pesticides.

    One of my favorite aspects of Ambrands is that they have a full satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not pleased with the product, you can return it for a full refund.

    Their About Us Page, could be a little bit more detailed. I like the fact that they try to give a little background but it feels lacking.

    Active Ingredient:

    The active ingredient in almost all AMDRO products is Hydramethylnon. Hydramethylnon disrupts the energy production of the cells in ants and uses a delayed toxicity system.

    Ants will be drawn to the bait because of its smell,  will eat some, and take a portion to bring back to the colony. Because of its delayed action, the ants will share the bait and then the colony will die out from the poison.

    This feature is fairly common among other popular baits such as Terro Ant Baits.

    Ease of Use:

    AMDRO Ant Bait Granules are easy to use so long as you follow the instructions. The bait cannot be applied to wet ground and should not be ingested. You can sprinkle the granules around the perimeter of your house and then leave them, so there is no extra work.

    Alternatively, you can buy ant bait stations and use them in and around your house.

    Is This Pet and Child Safe?

    AMDRO Bait is not pet or child safe and should be applied carefully around yards.

    Usually, a few hours after application, it’s okay to let pets and children outside. You should watch them so they don’t eat, lick, or touch the granules. None of the vegetation near the bait should be fed to animals as well, and the product cannot be used on vegetable gardens.

    Overall Effectiveness:

    The product is extremely effective, but might take a week or two to kill the entire ant colony. The granules also work on 15 different species of ant, making it a versatile product with many uses.

    AMDRO granules are also inexpensive and do not cost much when compared to how many uses you can get out of a single container.


    How Does It Compare Against Competitors?

    In this section, we like to look at a couple other products in the same category.

    Both products possess many of the same benefits because they can be placed around the perimeter of the home and prevent ants from entering properties.

    AMDRO and Ortho both kill ants, although Ortho can also eliminate and prevent many other pests like millipedes and lasts for three months, while AMDRO needs to be reapplied regularly.

    However, Ortho Home Defense uses Bifenthrin rather than Hydramethylnon. Bifenthrin disrupts the nervous systems of pests which eat it, and it as effective as the ingredient in AMDRO.

    The main reason not to use the Ortho granules is that Bifenthrin lasts much longer in the environment than Hydramethylon and poses greater risks to fish, bees, and other wildlife.

    To preserve the health of the environment, AMDRO is the recommended option.

    Advance 375a is a granular ant bait similar to AMDRO with a slightly different usage. Both products target ants specifically and work as an enticing food source which encourages ants to take the bait and bring it back to their nests.

    Both options are also inexpensive, and come in multi-use bottles, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money to fight a large ant population.

    One of the main differences between the baits is that Advance 375a needs to be put into a baiting station while AMDRO can be sprinkled around the yard for maximum protection.

    The other difference is the ingredients. AMDRO uses Hydramethylnon, which has a low environmental toxicity. Advance 375a uses Abamectin. Abamectin targets the nervous system of ants and is an effective killer. The problem is that abamectin is a highly toxic material with residual environmental and physical effects.

    Between the two options, AMDRO is safer for the environment and can be used as purchased without the need to buy baiting stations.

    AMDRO and Spectracide make similar granule products which can be scattered around the exterior of the home. Both products can be reapplied as needed, should be kept away from children and pets, and are inexpensive.

    While AMDRO takes a few days to kill ants, though, Spectracide kills instantly. This can be beneficial if you’re want a fast solution to your pest problem, but is bad if a colony already exists.

    The instant elimination with Spectracide means only the ants who forage for food will die. The ants within the colony, especially the reproducing queen, will be safe.

    If you want a more long-term, effective solution to ant problems, the stealthier AMDRO is the way to go.

    Perhaps the most popular of Ant Bait Traps, the Terro Brand has been around for decades successfully eliminating ants in many homes across the globe. Which is the best? It’s pretty close.

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    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Ed Spicer

    Ed Spicer

    Ed has been working in the pest control industry for years helping 1,000's of homeowners navigate the world of insect and rodent management.

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