Pests and pest control in Atlanta, GA

Pests to know in Atlanta

• Subterranean termites
• Formosan Subterranean Termite
• Red Imported Fire Ant
• Joro Spider
• Mosquito

Why each one matters here is cited in the sections below.

Termites in Atlanta

Georgia's common native termites are Reticulitermes species. They swarm in February and March, during the day, and are not drawn to lights.^[1]

Invasive species reported here

• Formosan subterranean termites have been found at a number of sites in Georgia since the early 1990s, but UGA describes them as rare in the state.^[1]
• Joro spiders came from Asia and were found in several northeast Georgia counties. The edges of metro Atlanta were starting to see them when the article was published in 2018.^[3]

Pests local experts flag

• All 159 Georgia counties report fire ant infestations.^[2]
• UGA reports that fire ants south of I-85 are red imported fire ants, while those north and west of I-85 are hybrids of red and black imported fire ants.^[2]

Climate

Central Atlanta (ZIP 30303) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8a, where the average coldest winter night is 10 to 15°F.^[7]

Public agencies that handle pests

• Fulton County sets mosquito traps every year from July to October to collect mosquitoes and test them.^[4]
• Fulton County's response to positive mosquito results includes neighborhood education and EPA-approved adulticides and larvicides. Adulticides are usually sprayed at night from a truck.^[4]

Hiring a licensed company

The state pesticide regulatory agency for Georgia is the Georgia Department of Agriculture (Plant Industry Division), which oversees pesticide applicator certification and licensing.^[8]

Licensing agency: Georgia Department of Agriculture — Plant Industry Division^[8].

See also how to check a pest control license.

Free local help

UGA Extension Fulton County runs a Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program and offers soil testing.^[6]

Through the year

Year-round

In 2025, Fulton County mosquito traps in Hapeville and Northwest Atlanta found West Nile virus. Officials said positive mosquitoes are not unusual at that time of year.^[5]

Sources

1. University of Georgia CAES, “Identifying the Formosan Subterranean Termite | CAES Field Report.” fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/publications/C868/identifying-the-formosan-subterranean-termite/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
2. University of Georgia CAES, “Two Types of Fire Ants Now Thrive in Georgia.” fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/?p=20527 (accessed 2026-10-06)
3. University of Georgia CAES, “New spiders in north Georgia are hard to miss but pose no threat.” fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/news/new-spiders-in-north-georgia-are-hard-to-miss-but-pose-no-threat/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
4. Fulton County Government / Fulton County Board of Health, “DON'T LET YOUR BACKYARD BECOME A MOSQUITO BREEDING GROUND!.” fultoncountyga.gov/News/2021/08/13/DONT-LET-YOUR-BACKYARD-BECOME-A-MOSQUITO-BREEDING-GROUND (accessed 2026-10-06)
5. Fulton County Government, “Happening in Fulton: West Nile Update.” fultoncountyga.gov/News/2025/07/23/Happening-in-Fulton-West-Nile-Update (accessed 2026-10-06)
6. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, “Fulton County.” extension.uga.edu/county-offices/fulton.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
7. USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 30303 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/30303.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
8. National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)