How do I identify odorous house ants?
If you’ve noticed small brown or black ants (ranging from 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch in length) crawling around your home, there’s a good chance they’re odorous house ants. These nuisance ants can also be identified by the unpleasant odor they emit when crushed, often described as a “rotten coconut” or “blue cheese” smell.
When are odorous house ants most active?
Are odorous house ants harmful?
Considered nuisance ants when they infest homes and structures, odorous house ants are not known to be a threat to people. And, unlike carpenter ants, they do not cause structural damage.
Do odorous house ants bite?
Odorous house ants are not considered aggressive and they rarely bite. If they do, their bites are not considered harmful to humans.
What do odorous house ants eat?
Odorous house ants aren’t exactly picky eaters and will feed on a variety of items found inside homes, including foods high in protein and any sugary morsel they can scrounge up. Outside, they typically consume honeydew excreted by aphids and on nectar from flowers.
Where do odorous house ants nest indoors?
Inside homes and other structures, odorous house ants tend to nest in wall voids, around heaters, and hot water pipes. They’re also found under floors, in and around cupboards, in wood damaged by termites, and beneath leaky fixtures.
Outdoors, odorous house ants can be found under rocks, mulch, and in soil, as well as under firewood and other landscaping elements.
How do odorous house ants get inside?
Odorous house ants enter homes and structures through openings on the exterior of the house, including cracks in the foundation, gaps under doors and around windows, and through openings around utility entrances.
Are there natural ways to get rid of odorous house ants?
Although there are many suggestions for getting rid of odorous house ants naturally, including using lemon juice along ant trails and by entry points, we don’t recommend using these remedies or other DIY pest treatments. Although you might see an initial decline, it’s likely these ants will rebound, or worse, resurface elsewhere in the house.
How do I get rid of odorous house ants?
To exterminate odorous house ants, professional pest control is the best option. At Harris Pest Control, we offer year-round home pest control services that include a free pest inspection and effective pest treatments in the Pee Dee and Grand Strand regions of South Carolina. If you’re worried about odorous house ants infesting your home (or business), reach out to Harris Pest Control today!
How can I prevent odorous house ants?
To prevent an infestation of odorous house ants, our local pest control pros recommend the following pest prevention tips:
- Eliminate food sources
- Keep your kitchen clean and free of crumbs and spills
- Store open food packages in airtight containers
- Seal entry points
- Trim back trees, bushes, and shrubs that touch your home
- Repair leaking pipes
- Address rooms with high moisture content
