Abstract: An insecticidal bait composition which is particularly useful against social insects, such as cockroaches and ants is disclosed. The bait composition comprises a solid or semi-solid bait matrix including a food material for an insect and one or more non-microencapsulated insecticides in an amount effective to act essentially as a primary kill agent and one or more microencapsulated insecticides, excluding pyrethroids, in an amount effective to act essentially as a secondary kill agent, the non-microencapsulated insecticide and microencapsulated insecticide being the same or different.