Which characteristic is essential for termite bait products to achieve success?

For termite bait products to be effective, it is essential that they are readily consumed by termites. This characteristic ensures that termites will find and ingest the bait, allowing the active ingredients to disrupt their biological processes and ultimately affect the colony's health. Since termites are social insects that rely on feeding behaviors to share food with other colony members, a bait that is palatable and attractive encourages consumption not just by individuals but also facilitates transfer to others in the colony.

In contrast, attributes such as being highly repellent to insects would deter termites from approaching the bait, making it ineffective. Fast-acting products do not necessarily guarantee success since the goal is to allow enough time for the bait to be shared throughout the colony and create a more significant impact. Additionally, stating that the bait must be available only in liquid form limits the variety of formulations that could be effective, as baits can also be offered in solid or grain forms that are just as effective when designed to attract and be consumed by termites. Thus, the ability of the bait to be readily consumed is the most crucial factor for its success.