Reusable Poison Ant Bait Station

Overview:

I wanted a reusable poison ant bait station where the station should stay relatively clean between subsequent reloading cycles.

I have includes two variants of the roof, a plain one, and one with embedded text with a warning message.   The message can be easily altered to match your native language by editing the project file in PrusaSlicer.

Handling Precautions:

• Liquid or gel based Ant bait is a poison!. Use latex or polyethylene gloves if possible when handling it or the stations (when loading, place or disposing), and wash your hands immediately with soap under warming water.

• Do not let child near the stations when loaded and make them aware of the danger they pose.

Printing:

• Print the press top and bottom and the bait station body.

• Printer either roof variant to suit your needs as mentioned in the overview above.

Assembly:

Equipment Needed:

• Small Knife or scissors

• 2x small of 30mm by 60mm sections of aluminum foil.

• Bait station parts

• Liquid ant posion

Making the Poison Cells

• Take each section of aluminum foil and fold it half so they both measure ~30mm square.

• Place each foil section between the top and bottom press halves and squeeze firmly to mold the foil into a simple cell shape.
  
  Then either,

  Use a knife to trim the excess aluminum foil that sticks out the edges of the press or,
  Release the foil cups from the press mold and use scissors press to trim the edges of each cell.

Loading the Bait  Station:

• Place the foil cells into the bait station body and press down on the two ramp areas for each to make the cells lock into each cell space

• Place a few drops of ant poison into each cell, taking care not to use so much as they overflow down the ramps.

• Place the roof over the top and press down to secure it in place.

• The station is now loaded and ready for placement.

Placing the Bait Station:

• Place the ant bait station somewhere where;

  • The ants can find it,

  • Small children and animals (pets) cannot;

  • Its out of the weather (wind and rain) or cannot be disturbed (i.e. disturbed by foot traffic).

Maintenance:

• Check the Bait Station periodically confirm activity and poison levels. You can do this by lifting the lid off to carefully to check on contents of each cell.
  
  If the poison level is low, but the poison is still activity being consumed, top each cell up with a drop or two of liquid bait. Replace the roof back onto the station before putting it back into place.
  
  If the poison is gone, or the cells are damaged you can use this as an opportunity to remove and discard the foil cells and replace them with new cells, or put the station away for use for another day.  (after putting the roof back on of course.)