A liquid bait for target insects and methods of attracting or controlling insects by means of its use. Sorbitol is dissolved in an amount of water sufficient to form an aqueous carrier. The dissolved sorbitol is in a concentration great enough to be effective as a humectant to retard drying of the liquid carrier. The liquid bait further includes at least one insect attractant that is dissolved, dispersed, suspended, or emulsified in the liquid carrier in an amount effective to attract the target insects. The insect attractant may include, in combination, sucrose, fructose, d-maltose, the lithium salt of saccharin, lithium chloride, and vitamins. The liquid bait also may include an effective amount of an insect control active ingredient selected from the group consisting of insecticides, insect growth regulators, chitin inhibitors, insect pathogens, insect-controlling materials derived from insect pathogens, and combinations thereof.