Do ants attract other ants when killed?

Yes, ants can attract other ants when killed depending on species and how they are killed, because dead or crushed ants release chemicals that signal other colony members, which is an important factor in why squishing alone often makes infestations seem worse. Odorous house ants, which are tiny black ants common in kitchens, release alarm pheromones and oleic acid when crushed or when they die naturally, which triggers a response in nearby workers to investigate the area, pick up the dead ant and carry it to a refuse pile in a behavior called necrophoresis to prevent disease, and in the process they may discover food or pheromone trails and recruit more ants to the location. So squishing a few ants on a countertop can actually cause more ants to appear shortly after as they come to remove the bodies and follow existing trails. Additionally, when ants die naturally they release decomposition chemicals that attract nestmates to remove them for sanitation. Some species like fire ants are more aggressive and may swarm when nestmates are killed. This is why pest control professionals advise against simply squishing ants as control, because it does not eliminate the queen or nest hidden in walls or outdoors and can increase visible activity temporarily. Instead, the recommended method is to wipe up ants with soapy water which removes pheromone trails and dead bodies without triggering alarm, store food sealed, clean crumbs, seal entry points with caulk, and use slow-acting gel baits containing fipronil or borax that workers carry back to kill queen and colony within days, rather than killing that attracts more.