Odorous House Ants

Identification

These tiny ants range in size from one-sixteenth of an inch to one-eighth of an inch long. They are brown to black in color and are found throughout the United States. When crushed, they give off a pungent rotten coconut-like odor.

BIOLOGY

Colonies can have several hundred to 100,000 ants and multiple queens. Workers from other colonies are not hostile to each other and can share some of the same areas.

 

This cooperative nesting behavior contributes to the long-term survival of the colony, which is why understanding the lifespan of an ant is critical to effective, long-term pest control. Queens can live for years, maintaining and growing the colony over time.

 

 

Odorous House Ants

HABITS

When indoors, they have a tendency to nest in wall voids, especially around hot water pipes and heaters, in crevices around sinks, cupboards etc. They have a preference for sweets, but will also eat foods that are high in proteins and grease such as meats and cheeses. Outside, they are often found in the nests of larger ants, in exposed soil but mostly under objects. Workers feed on insects, honeydew and plant secretions and even feed on seeds. They love honeydew and are most likely to enter buildings when their honeydew supply is running low. When workers are alarmed, they run around in an erratic manner with the abdomens raised up.

 

It’s no surprise that many homeowners wonder how long do ants live when these persistent foragers return year after year—especially since odorous house ant colonies can recover and rebuild quickly if not fully eliminated.

CONTROL

Odorous house ants are known to be attracted to moisture. To help prevent an infestation of odorous house ants, eliminate any standing water or wet spots around your property. Trim back any tree branches and other plants from the house as these can provide highways for these ants to enter the home. Check your foundation for small cracks and openings around the perimeter of your home and make any necessary repairs to fill the holes. Lastly, make sure that any store firewood or building materials are stored a distance from the home because these ants like to build nests in stacks of wood. Consult and contact Richland Pest and Bee Control if you see any signs of an infestation.

Common ant species

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Richland Pest & Bee Control offers professional ant control to homes and businesses throughout Connecticut including (but not limited to): Avon, Bristol, Coventry, Cromwell, East Hartford, East Haven, East Windsor, Farmington Valley, Hamden, Hartford, Hebron, Manchester, Meriden, Naugatuck, New Britain, New Hartford, New Haven, North Haven, Shelton, Southbury, Southington, Stafford, Suffield, Tolland, Trumbull, Vernon, Wallingford, Waterbury, West Hartford, West Haven, Windsor, Windsor Locks, Woodbury. Look for us in your town!