Odorous House Ant

Category:

Actual Size: 1/16″ to 1/8″

Characteristics: Small; brown or black. Produces a “rotten coconut” smell when they are crushed; hence the name.

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: The reproductive males and females have wings.

Habitat: Attracted to moisture. Wall voids near water pipes, heaters, leaking fixtures, and damaged wood are all ideal habitats.

Habits:

  • Will nest inside homes in wall voids near heat sources.
  • They prefer sweets but will eat almost any household food.
  • They invade structures during heavy rains when the honeydew of plants is washed away.

Odorous House Ants in Alburquerque NM

Odorous house ants get their name from the rotten, coconut-like odor they give off when crushed. In the Alburquerque area, these ant pests create large colonies with multiple queens that split to form subcolonies. As a result, eliminating odorous house ants can be challenging. Odorous house ants are non-hostile toward workers from related subcolonies, which allows them to dominate large areas quickly. Referred to as sugar ants, they prefer to eat honeydew which is produced from aphids and mealybugs. However, they can become an issue when they invade homes during heavy rains when the honeydew of plants is washed away.

Odorous House Ant Habitat

The odorous house ant is adaptable and can live almost anywhere. Outdoors, odorous house ants are often found under stones, logs, planters, or under stacks of firewood. They invade homes and businesses looking for food, which is why they are typically found in kitchens and food prep areas. When looking for a suitable location, odorous house ants prefer areas near moisture—wall voids near water pipes, heaters, leaking fixtures, and damaged wood are all ideal habitats for them. Foraging for food twenty-four hours a day, odorous ants invade walls, insulation, window frames, electrical sockets, bathtubs, and toilet seats.

Odorous House Ant Behaviors, Threats or Dangers

Odorous house ants do not sting or bite, however, as they forage in kitchens and pantries, they contaminate food. Ants can access homes in considerable numbers, utilizing trails that originate outside of the structure. Entering through gaps and cracks, they spoil stored pantry products. When worker ants and scout ants seek out food for the colony, they leave behind an invisible scent trail from the food source back to their nest. As ants follow the scent trail back to a home, homeowners may be shocked by the sheer number of visible ants. If an odorous house ant issue is suspected, it is best to contact a professional ant exterminator.

Don’t wait until your home is overrun by ants. Contact Pest Defense Solutions today!