A method for preparing and a product made thereby for a bait insecticide composition that is toxic toward fire ants (Solenopsis saevissima v. richterii). Such a composition is comprised of an attractant agent (concord grape extract) mixed with a toxicant (organophosphorous compound) and an enhancing agent (salt). This present invention has the ability to control fire ants while remaining environmentally safe by being inert with regard to most other ants and nearly all other types of insects, rodents and mammals.

This invention describes a cellulose bait that is hermetically sealed with a non-biodegradable material through which termites can tunnel or chew. The envelopes of the subject invention are preferably made of a soft/flexible material. Because the bait is hermetically sealed ("HS baits") in a weather-resistant enclosure, it can remain in the environment for extended periods until termite feeding occurs. Not only is the bait protected, the environment is also protected from the toxicant because the toxicant is completely sequestered until it is encountered by the foraging termites. This novel bait system does not require monitoring. Such baits can be placed in large quantities in places where monitoring is not practical and/or economical. The subject bait packs can be distributed in large quantities in agricultural fields or in large areas such as an entire city for area-wide population management of subterranean termites. The subject invention also provides surprising advantages associated with bypassing bait inspection and replacement; the subject invention eliminates "station avoidance" by some termite species. In other preferred embodiments, HS baits of the subject invention can be used in conjunction with durable, sturdy station housings.

An attractant composition has been discovered for the control of multiple species of pest arthropods, particularly multiple species of pest ants. The composition, which includes a sugar and a salt or base, and water, attracts both oil-loving and sweet-loving ants and is especially useful with water soluble or suspendable toxicants.

A composition is disclosed from controlling an insect population including an insect food stuff and an insecticidally effective amount of at least one Gram negative bacteria, viable, dead or alive, and/or an extract thereof, where the composition is applied to an area accessible to the insects and results in insect death. The compositions are ideally suited for the control of fire ants, cockroaches, carpenter ants and termites. For fire ant and cockroach control, the food stuff is a carbohydrate rich material, while for carpenter ant and termite control, the food stuff is a cellulosic rich material. The composition is applied to the area as a single treatment or as a periodic treatment in an amount have from about 5.times.10.sup.9 to about 1.times.10.sup.13 bacteria or extracts from that number of bacteria.