Odorous house ants are small ants that grow to about an eighth of an inch long. They are brown or black, have six legs, a pair of antennae, and segmented bodies.
Odorous house ants get their name from the stench they give off when crushed. It is a smell that most people compare to rotten coconut.
Odorous house ants like sweet foods. They are especially fond of honeydew from plants. If they get into your house, odorous house ants will eat sugars, syrups, jams or jellies, honey, and fruit.
Although they are considered nuisance pests and are not considered a danger to humans, odorous house ants can contaminate your food. If you find odorous house ants in any food items, you should throw those items away to avoid the risk of becoming ill.
Odorous house ants are nuisance pests. Although they can contaminate your food, they are not considered a major health risk in other ways.
Because of their tiny size, odorous house ants have no trouble accessing the inside of homes. They can exploit any tiny crack, hole, or other opening to get into your house. They may come inside for a variety of reasons, such as foraging for food or looking for a suitable nesting site.
Odorous house ants like to nest in moist areas. When outdoors, they can often be found in soil or piles of firewood. Inside, they are most likely to nest near water sources, such as under sinks or in wall voids near hot water pipes.
Odorous house ants move around a lot, rarely staying in one nesting location for more than three months at a time. They typically move in response to rain.
When odorous house ants get into your home, they are most likely to be found in rooms with a lot of moisture or rooms where there is a steady food supply. Your bathroom is likely the most humid room in your house, so they may find an area within your bathroom to nest. Your kitchen offers odorous house ants an endless food supply.
Treating an ant problem can be tricky for a few reasons. Different ant species respond to different treatments, so finding the right one isn’t always as cut and dried as you’d expect. When odorous house ants get into your home, you also need to know how widespread the issue is and where they’re nesting.
For the most efficient and effective ant control, it’s best to contact The Pied Piper. Our team consists of experts in ant biology and behavior. We know what to look for, where to look, and how to treat an odorous house ant infestation so that it is completely eliminated.
Instead of wasting time and money on DIY ant control methods that don’t work, let The Pied Piper eliminate your odorous house ant problem fast.
Preventing odorous house ants requires you to eliminate the things that attract them, while also making it as difficult as possible for them to find their way into your house in the first place. Try these odorous house ant prevention tips to keep these ants out of your home:
For the best odorous house ant prevention, combine the prevention tips above with routine home pest control from The Pied Piper. We will help ensure your home stays free of odorous house ants and other common pests.
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Stephanie H.
Eufaula, OK
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Eufaula, OK
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Eufaula, OK
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