Identification. Because there are so many types of ants that do so many types of things, the first step when controlling ants is always identification. We us general morphology, nodes, and antennae to ID most ants.

Is treatment warranted? Sometimes ants are in a non bothersome location and can be left to their own devices. Other times, they cause damage to your home or plants.

Budding. We have several types of ants that "bud". This is a survival technique that ants use to preserve the colony. If alarm pheromones are detected, a queen will send out secondary reproductives to begin new colonies in the area. If repellant pesticides are used and can be detected by ants that bud, a problem can often be made much worse by spraying pesticides.

Treating for ants is a lifestyle, not a one time thing. Ants will routinely be reintroduced to your property, and controlling them is done best through routine maintenance.

Most treatments for ants are done by baiting. There are times and circumstances where liquid application is appropriate, but it's up to an expert to determine when that is the case.