How Ant Colonies Really Work
The ants on your counter are just the tip of the iceberg. Most of the colony is hidden away in walls, soil, or crawl spaces, and that colony can include thousands or even millions of ants.
Every ant has a job:
- The queen lays eggs and keeps the colony growing
- Workers forage for food, care for the young, and maintain the nest
- Drones (males) are there to mate with the queen
Some species even have multiple queens, which makes them even harder to control. If you don’t take down the colony at its source, including the queen, you’ll keep seeing ants no matter how much you spray.
Why Spraying Ants Only Offers Temporary Relief
Spraying ants you see might feel productive in the moment, but it doesn’t fix the root problem. Here’s why:
- It only kills visible ants
Spray works on contact. It wipes out the ants in your line of sight, but leaves the rest of the colony untouched. - It can make the infestation worse
With certain species, spraying actually triggers budding, a defense response where the colony splits into two or more parts to survive. That means more nests and more ants down the line. - It doesn’t reach the queen
The colony will keep going strong as long as the queen (or queens) are still alive. Ant spray won’t get near her, and she’ll just keep producing more workers to replace the ones you killed.
Common Ant Species in Atlanta That Are Tough to Eliminate
Different types of ants require different treatment strategies. In North Atlanta, we see a lot of:
- Argentine Ants
These ants form massive colonies with multiple queens. They’re extremely persistent and thrive in urban environments. - Carpenter Ants
These are the wood-damaging ants that tunnel through your home’s structure. They often nest in wall voids and are tricky to find. - Odorous House Ants
Known for the rotten coconut smell they give off when crushed, odorous house ants love kitchens and bathrooms and can be tough to track to the nest. - Fire Ants
Fire ants are aggressive, outdoor nesters that sting repeatedly if disturbed. Their colonies grow fast and can be hard to eliminate without professional help.
Why Professional Ant Control Works
DIY ant spray might help in the short term, but they don’t break the colony cycle. When you call us for help getting rid of ants, here’s what we do differently:
- We identify the ant species so we know exactly what we’re dealing with
- We target the whole colony, not just the worker ants out foraging
- We eliminate the queen, stopping the colony from growing back
- We use treatments that won’t harm your family or pets
- We don’t just treat symptoms—we treat the source
How We Solve Recurring Ant Problems
At got bugs?, we take a full-service approach to ant control. Here’s how we help:
- Thorough inspection: We check your home inside and out to find nests and entry points
- Targeted treatment: We apply professional-grade products designed for your specific ant species
- Ongoing protection: Our preventive home pest control services help keep ants (and other pests) out for good
Atlanta’s climate makes it easy for pests to thrive, but that doesn’t mean your home has to host them. If you’re tired of spraying ants only to have them come back, we can help.
Ants Keep Coming Back? Let’s Fix That
You don’t have to keep fighting the same ant battle over and over. Our team at got bugs? Termite & Pest Solutions has the tools, experience, and local knowledge to stop infestations at the source. We’ve been eliminating ants in Alpharetta, Buckhead, Marietta, and the North Atlanta area for almost 20 years; you can rely on our locally owned and operated pest control company to exterminate your ant problem!
Contact us today to schedule an inspection and finally get ahead of the ants.
