Maxforce Quantum Ant Bait 120g + 10 Stations: Fast, Lasting Colony Control

Description

Maxforce Quantum 0.03% Imidacloprid Ant Control Liquid Bait with 10 stations, 120 Gram Bottle is the kind of fix you reach for when the tiny trails in your kitchen or office will not quit. This clear, easy-to-place liquid bait gives worker ants something they cannot resist, so they carry it back to the nest and share it, which is exactly how you turn a scattered nuisance into a solved problem.

Key Customer Benefits

• Real colony knockdown, not just surface cleanup. The bait is shared by workers through trophallaxis, so it reaches the queen and brood. Labels report that fewer ants and dead workers are often noticeable within a few days, which is the clearest sign the colony is collapsing.
• Stays attractive for a long window, which means fewer re-baits. The formulation resists drying and remains palatable to ants for up to three months in indoor environments. Pros also position it as a “quarterly service” solution, so you are not babysitting bait placements every week.
• Covers the sugar-loving species that invade kitchens. Designed for a broad spectrum of pest ants, including Argentine, Pharaoh, Ghost, Odorous House, Pavement, and more, exactly the ones that trail to sinks and pantries.
• Works where you actually live. Labeled for both indoor and outdoor placements across homes, schools, restaurants, offices, vehicles, and more. That flexibility lets you intercept trails at entry points and keep the kitchen usable while the bait does its work.
• Moist, syrup-like matrix that keeps pulling traffic. The bait’s hygroscopic, syrup-like texture helps it retain and even absorb moisture, so trails continue to feed instead of abandoning a dried blob. That steady feeding is the key to a full transfer back to the nest.
• Kit includes 10 refillable bait stations for tidy, safer placements. Stations keep the liquid where it belongs, protect from splashes, and help you position bait in cracks, under appliances, and along runways while keeping placements out of reach of kids and pets, as the label requires for indoor use.
• Scales up for heavy, multi-queen infestations outdoors. When you are battling massive Argentine or crazy ant populations, the label allows a low-dose dilution in sugar water for liquid stations along property lines and trails, useful for perimeter suppression.

Product Description

What it is

Maxforce Quantum 0.03 percent Imidacloprid Ant Control Liquid Bait is a clear, ready-to-use sugar-based bait that comes in a 120 gram squeeze bottle. The kit usually ships with 10 refillable stations, so you can place it tidily along trails in kitchens, break rooms, garages, and exterior runways without leaving sticky blobs on surfaces. The label allows use indoors and outdoors, including transportation equipment and, in food areas, crack and crevice only, which makes it practical for homes and small businesses that need targeted placements rather than broad sprays.

How it works

Worker ants find the sweet liquid, feed, then share it through trophallaxis, which is the colony’s food exchange system. That sharing is how the active ingredient imidacloprid travels from foragers to brood and queen, so you are not just mopping up visible trails, you are quietly starving the colony of future workers. Labels note that dead workers and fewer ants are often noticeable within a few days as feeding continues. Indoors, the bait resists drying and remains palatable for up to three months, which gives you a long feeding window to finish the job.

What makes it effective and different

Two things stand out in practice. First, the moisture-holding matrix stays attractive much longer than gels that crust over quickly, so trails keep feeding instead of abandoning your placement after a day. Envu’s product literature and the registered label both emphasize this long palatability period in indoor environments. Second, the label includes a field-proven option for big outdoor problems like Argentine ants and crazy ants. You can prepare a low dose liquid, one part Maxforce Quantum in nine parts 25 percent sugar water, then deploy it in liquid-secure stations such as KM Ant Pro or Antopia. That creates a perimeter buffet that scales to multi-queen, multi-colony populations.

A homeowner called me in early rainy season about odorous house ants marching from a planter box into the dishwasher line. We placed two station dots under the toe-kick and one tucked near the plumbing chase, then set three outdoor liquid stations along the mulch line where trails were entering. We left the kitchen placements undisturbed, wiped old trails with soapy water, and let the ants feed. By day three, traffic had thinned to a few stragglers. We topped off the outdoor stations once, then checked again at two weeks. No new trails and no kitchen sightings, which matched the label’s promise of quick reduction plus the longer palatability that keeps ants coming back to the same food source until the colony folds.

Product Specifications

Spec	Details
Product type	Ready-to-use, clear liquid ant bait designed for use in small “spots,” beads, cracks and crevices, or refillable liquid bait stations.
Active ingredient	Imidacloprid 0.03 percent. Other ingredients 99.97 percent.
Net contents	120 grams squeeze bottle with cut-to-open tip.
Kit hardware	Includes 10 refillable bait stations in this retail kit for tidy, contained placements.
Labeled use sites	Residential buildings, schools, commercial and industrial buildings such as warehouses, supermarkets, restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, labs, pet shops, zoos, food handling and storage areas with restrictions, and transportation equipment such as aircraft, trains, ships, buses, cars and RVs.
Target pest ants	Broad spectrum of sugar-feeding species including Argentine, Pharaoh, Ghost, Odorous House, Crazy, Pavement, Little Black, Acrobat, Big-Headed, Black Garden, Rover, Thief and White-Footed ants. Not for fire, carpenter or harvester ants.
How it works	Foragers feed on the sweet bait, then share it by trophallaxis so the active reaches brood and queens. Noticeable decline in workers often occurs within a few days.
Palatability window	Remains attractive for up to three months indoors, which reduces rebaiting frequency when placements are left undisturbed.
Indoor application rate	Up to 2.0 grams per 100 square feet of floor space, typically as ten 0.2-gram spots in a 100-square-foot kitchen. Approximate yield: a 120-gram bottle can service up to 6,000 square feet at the maximum indoor rate. (Yield is a label-based calculation.)
Outdoor application	Up to 0.2 gram spots where ants are active; up to 2.0 grams injected into nest entrances; along active trails 0.6 gram per 10 linear feet split into several small beads.
Dilution option for large colonies outdoors	For big, multi-queen species such as Argentine or crazy ants: make 25 percent sugar water (for example, 8 ounces sugar in 1 quart water), then mix 1 part Maxforce Quantum with 9 parts sugar water. Apply only via liquid-secure stations like KM Ant Pro or Antopia. The diluted bait equals 0.003 percent imidacloprid (30 ppm). Do not exceed 1 station per 25 feet of building perimeter.
Station use guidance	May be dispensed into refillable stations for interior or exterior perimeter use. Do not exceed the reservoir capacity. Place near trails, nest sites, fence lines and property lines. Inspect and replenish as needed.
Food-area restrictions	In food or feed handling areas, applications are crack-and-crevice only. Avoid contamination of food, utensils and food-contact surfaces.
Staining and plant restrictions	Product may stain textiles and porous surfaces. Test first in an inconspicuous spot. Do not apply to linden, basswood or other Tilia species.
Storage and disposal	Store cool and dry, out of reach of children. Non-refillable container. If empty, place in trash or recycle if available. If partly filled, contact local solid-waste agency. Never pour unused product down drains.
Safety signal word	CAUTION. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Follow first-aid instructions on the label.
Registration and stewardship	EPA Reg. No. 432-1506. The product line is now stewarded by Envu following Bayer’s 2022 divestiture; U.S. product pages reference the same three-month control window. Always follow the current U.S. label.

 

How to Use Maxforce Quantum, Step by Step

Before you start: set the stage for baiting success

Ant bait works best when you remove competing food and erase trail odors that lead ants elsewhere. Wipe up crumbs, seal sweets, fix drips, and clean visible trails with soapy water. Avoid using insecticide sprays while you are baiting, since sprays can repel ants or kill foragers before they share the bait with the colony. University of California Integrated Pest Management specifically advises using baits in place of sprays and keeping placements fresh.

Identify where ants travel

Watch for trails along baseboards, counter edges, plumbing and electrical lines, and exterior seams like expansion joints or mulch borders. UC IPM recommends placing bait near nests and along foundations where ants have been seen, and around the base of infested plants outdoors. This targeting helps you intercept foragers quickly and safely.

Indoor placements with the included stations

For kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, and offices, dispense small amounts of Maxforce Quantum 0.03 percent imidacloprid into the supplied refillable stations, then place them tight to trails or in crack and crevice sites that children and pets cannot reach. The EPA-stamped product label allows up to 2.0 grams per 100 square feet indoors, typically divided into many tiny spots or beads. The label also notes the bait stays palatable for up to three months indoors when left undisturbed, which reduces constant re-baiting. Check stations regularly at first. If the bait has dried, is contaminated with cleaners, or no longer attracts ants, refresh the station.

Pro tip from the field. Start small. If a trail is light, one or two stations near the run often outperform a puddle of bait. Overfilling can drown ants or make a sticky mess that is harder to manage, a point many DIY users bring up when they first try liquid bait stations.

Outdoor placements for regular trails and nest entrances

Outdoors, tuck small beads of bait in weather-sheltered micro-sites along active trails, under meter boxes, beneath siding lips, or near irrigation valves. The label allows up to 0.6 gram per 10 linear feet of active trail and up to 2.0 grams injected into nest entrances. Keep placements shaded when possible so they remain moist and attractive. Revisit sites after rain or heavy irrigation and replenish if needed.

Scaling up for heavy Argentine or tramp ant pressure

When large, multi-queen populations are foraging across beds and property lines, switch to the label’s low-dose liquid program. Mix one part Maxforce Quantum with nine parts 25 percent sugar water to produce a 0.003 percent imidacloprid solution, then deploy it only in liquid-secure stations such as KM Ant Pro or Antopia around the perimeter and along major trails. The label cautions not to store the diluted sugar solution for long, since mold or bacteria can spoil it. Many pro shops advise replacing diluted bait at least monthly or sooner if it looks cloudy or moldy. This approach keeps a long-running buffet available so foragers can shuttle bait to the brood and queens over days rather than hours.

Leave trails intact to keep ants feeding

Resist the urge to wipe away every ant you see near a station. You want steady traffic into the bait for at least 24 to 72 hours. Research on food sharing in ants shows substantial exchange between workers through trophallaxis, which is the mechanism that moves the active ingredient deeper into the colony. This is why patient baiting beats quick-kill sprays in kitchens.

Monitoring and maintenance schedule

Plan a quick check at 24 hours, 72 hours, and one week. Top off stations that are empty, relocate any placements that missed the main trail, and remove stations that no longer show interest. UC IPM reminds us that ants can switch food preferences during the season, so if traffic falls off, try a fresh dot or reposition. If you used diluted bait outdoors, examine it for mold and replace it as needed.

Food-area and plant precautions

In food or feed areas, the label limits you to crack and crevice applications only, and it requires preventing contamination of food and food-contact surfaces. The label also warns that Maxforce Quantum can stain textiles and porous surfaces, and it should not be applied to linden or basswood trees. Always read the current label before you start.

When results show up

On typical kitchen species like odorous house ants and Argentine ants, the label and manufacturer note that fewer ants and dead workers are often noticeable within a few days as feeding continues. The long indoor palatability window means you can let the stations work without constant disturbance. If you still see persistent trails after two weeks of good feeding, reassess placement points, reduce alternative food sources, and consider the perimeter liquid-station program for larger outdoor populations.

DIY users and pros often report that cleaning pheromone trails with soap or vinegar helps steer foragers back to bait placements, while blanket spraying can backfire or reduce bait acceptance. This aligns with public health IPM guidance that favors sanitation and baits over sprays for indoor ant control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Maxforce Quantum actually kill the colony and queen, or just the workers I see?

Yes, that is the point of this bait. Workers feed on the sweet liquid, then share it via trophallaxis so the active ingredient moves through the colony and reaches brood and queens. The EPA-stamped label describes this transfer and notes the bait remains attractive for up to three months indoors, which gives ants time to repeatedly feed and distribute it.

How quickly should I expect results after I set stations?

A noticeable decline often shows up within a few days when trails have good access to the bait and you leave placements undisturbed. Keep checking and replenishing as needed, especially in the first week. The label highlights the extended palatability window indoors, which supports sustained feeding and deeper transfer.

Which ant species does it work on, and which ones are excluded?

Maxforce Quantum targets a broad range of structure-invading sugar feeders, including Argentine ants, Pharaoh ants and odorous house ants. It does not target fire ants, harvester ants or carpenter ants. If you are dealing with carpenter ants, choose a carpenter ant-specific bait.

Can I use sprays at the same time as baiting?

It is best not to. University of California IPM advises against insecticide sprays while using baits, because sprays can repel or kill foragers before they share the bait and can contaminate stations. Focus on sanitation, trail cleaning and bait access while the program is running.

How much bait should I apply indoors and outdoors?

Indoors, apply up to 2.0 grams per 100 square feet, typically as many small spots placed along trails and entry points. Outdoors, place up to 0.2 gram per spot along trails, up to 2.0 grams directly into nest entrances, and about 0.6 gram per 10 linear feet of active trail split into several small beads.

I have heavy Argentine ant pressure outside. Can I dilute it for perimeter stations?

Yes, for large multi-queen species outdoors, the label allows you to prepare a 25 percent sugar water solution, then mix one part Maxforce Quantum with nine parts of that sugar water to make a 0.003 percent imidacloprid liquid. Apply only in liquid-secure stations such as KM Ant Pro or Antopia, and do not exceed one station per 25 feet of building perimeter. Mix fresh, since diluted sugar solutions can spoil.

Will I see more ants at first, and is that a bad sign?

A short-term surge at the station is a good sign that the bait is attractive. UC IPM explains that bait control is not immediate and may take several days or weeks depending on species and competing foods. Let the traffic continue so the active ingredient flows back to the nest.

Is Maxforce Quantum safe around kids and pets if I use the stations?

Use stations and place them where children and pets cannot reach. The product carries a CAUTION signal word, and the label requires keeping applications inaccessible to children and pets. Retailer guidance echoes this and suggests using refillable stations for tidy, contained placements. Always follow the label first.

Does the bait stain surfaces or harm plants?

The label warns that the product may stain textiles and other porous surfaces, so test placements in inconspicuous areas. It also says not to apply to linden or basswood trees, which are Tilia species.

What if I want to use it in kitchens or food areas?

In food or feed handling areas, applications are limited to crack-and-crevice only, with care to avoid contaminating food, utensils or food-contact surfaces. Bait stations are helpful for neat, targeted placements.

What is the shelf life, and what does the date on the tube mean?

Retailer Q and A notes the stamped date is a manufacturing date, not an expiration date. Stored properly out of heat, unopened product is typically usable for several years, and once placed in stations the bait is best refreshed within about three months. Always rely on the label for storage and disposal instructions, and replace any bait that looks contaminated or dried.

How much does one 120 gram bottle cover in a typical home?

At the maximum indoor rate of 2.0 grams per 100 square feet, a 120 gram bottle can service up to roughly 6,000 square feet. That is a label-based calculation, and real coverage varies with severity and how many placements you refresh.

Can I use it directly on edible plants?

Do not apply it on food or food-contact surfaces. For gardens, integrated pest management guidance recommends using stations or placements near trails and nest sites, not on edible plant parts. Place stations where ants travel so foragers can feed and return to the colony.

Conclusion

If you are tired of chasing lines of sugar ants around the sink and never quite winning, Maxforce Quantum 0.03 percent Imidacloprid Ant Control Liquid Bait with 10 stations, 120 Gram Bottle gives you a calm, methodical way to end the cycle. The label explains that the sweet, moisture-holding matrix stays attractive indoors for up to three months, so workers keep returning to feed and share the bait, which is exactly how you reach the brood and the queen for lasting control.

Here is the plan I recommend. Place small amounts in the included liquid ant bait stations where trails are most active, leave the traffic undisturbed for several days, and keep surfaces free of competing food. The transfer of food between ants, called trophallaxis, is the engine that carries the active ingredient deep into the colony, so patience here pays off.

If your trouble is bigger, for example Argentine ants moving across beds and fence lines, step up to the label’s diluted-bait program in secure outdoor stations such as KM AntPro. This creates a steady, low-dose buffet that large populations will visit repeatedly, which supports full transfer back to the nest.

You deserve a kitchen that is quiet again, and a yard that is not ruled by trails. Start with one focused round today, follow the label, and check placements at one day, three days, and one week. If you ever feel stuck, come back with a photo or a quick description of the species and trail locations, and I will help you fine-tune your setup. You have got this.