Are little yellow ants in Philadelphia a nuisance or something more? When people try DIY pest control methods, they frequently conclude that citronella ants are far more than a nuisance. This is because these pests appear to be so hard to kill.
Citronella ants are not necessarily more resistant than other ant species to common bug sprays. In fact, an over-the-counter ant killer can be somewhat effective against virtually any ant species. The problem is that these treatments just do not go far enough. That is, they are only capable of killing the ants with which they come into contact. This leaves the queen and all of her young with an opportunity to thrive and reproduce.
The small, yellowish ants known as citronella ants are easy for professional pest control technicians to defeat. Exterminators use specialized products than those that are available to the public. Moreover, they utilize baits that get carried straight to the center of the ant colony where the queen lives. This means that the colony is destroyed at its source, eliminating the problem for good.
WHAT DO
CITRONELLA
ANTS LOOK LIKE?
Property owners may suspect that they have a citronella ant infestation based on seeing yellow ants somewhere indoors. Like other ants, this species has a pair of antenna and six legs. Full-grown adults typically are four millimeters long. One of this ant's most distinctive features is the unusual scent of lemon that it emits, most frequently after being crushed.
WHERE DO
CITRONELLA
ANTS LIVE?
Members of the species strive to avoid being exposed to outdoor elements because open air can cause them to desiccate. Consequently, citronella ants are nearly always underground, emerging above ground level only for short periods of time. An obliging wooded area, pasture or field is an ideal habitat for the citronella ant.
Still, with people moving into citronella ant territory and vice versa, it is relatively common to find these pests living in close proximity to people. A subterranean ant nest may be placed adjacent to a foundation or within the soil of a garden or lawn. This makes it easy for the ants to explore the structure and perhaps come inside.
Once able to access a building, the citronella ants may establish an indoor nest, usually in a dark and humid spot. Soffits, wall voids, the space beneath the bathroom floor or a sink drain are all likely places to find a nest.
The nest sometimes is located in close proximity to a pantry, kitchen or other food source. Before long, workers from the colony are regularly moving between the nest and the available food.
WHAT DO
CITRONELLA
ANTS EAT?
This species is adapted to spend most of its life underground where insects such as aphids and mealybugs are found. These other insects produce a sweet substance called honeydew that is the staple food of the citronella ant. During the summer, populations of these honeydew-producing insects are large and food is widely available. However, the population of these species tends to decrease with the onset of fall.
This means that citronella ants are most likely to be found indoors when the weather begins cooling. They may be encountered particularly in areas where people store, prepare and serve food, though they may be nesting elsewhere within the structure.
Of course, it is possible to find a colony of citronella ants living indoors in any season. This is especially likely to occur if the building is not pest-proofed. With many options for entering the structure, curious citronella ants may use their powerful sense of smell to come indoors to seek baked goods, desserts, honey, syrup and other sugary foods.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY CITRONELLA ANTS
Unfortunately, citronella ants can be more than a nuisance when it comes to property damage. This is especially true when this species builds a nest somewhere inside a structure.
The species is known for seeking out damaged wood in which to make a nest. The wood may have been damaged by an earlier pest infestation, a water leak or simple time and wear. Regardless, the citronella ants will see this damage as the perfect opportunity to build a comfortable nest.
Eliminating all such damage from the property is one way to protect it from infestation by citronella ants.
ARE
CITRONELLA
ANTS AGGRESSIVE?
The average colony of citronella ants can host tens of thousands of members. Most of these are workers, which are responsible for foraging for food. This means that they leave the nest every day in search of food that can be carried back to the nest.
With such huge numbers of citronella ants invading Philadelphia homes and businesses, this absolutely is an aggressive species. They will not stop infesting the premises and contaminating food until they are forced to do so.
DO
CITRONELLA
ANTS CARRY DISEASE?
Like other ant species, citronella ants routinely feed from food that people intend to eat themselves. Ants that get into food bring with them all sorts of viruses, bacteria and other toxins. These contaminants may be widely distributed in food and on the surfaces that are used to prepare food. Accordingly, cases of food poisoning tend to rise when citronella ants are present.
Even the smell that is emitted by citronella ants can be linked to illnesses in people. This is because some individuals are allergic to the chemical that causes that smell. Contact with the chemical may instigate an adverse reaction.
HOW TO DETECT
CITRONELLA
ANTS
Signs of an acrobat presence include:
• Yellow ants on various surfaces inside buildings • Yellow ants gathering in the lawn or on soil close to the opening for an underground nest • Increased incidents of small mounds of soil appearing in landscaping • Pervasive smells of lemon or other citrus fruits inside buildings
HOW TO PREVENT
CITRONELLA
ANTS
To help prevent an acrobat issue the following steps should be taken:
• Switch to pest-proof food storage • Clean up crumbs and spills as soon as they occur • Place dirty dishes directly in the dishwasher instead of the sink • Refrain from storing food on counters or tables • Look for and eliminate holes, cracks and gaps in the building's exterior • Keep good-quality screens on all doors and windows • Repair all damage caused by water leaks or earlier pest infestations
HOW WE TREAT FOR
CITRONELLA
ANTS
Ants are the number one pest control issue and can prove virtually impossible for home and business owners to solve on their own. Ending an ant infestation typically requires proper ant identification, locating and destroying the nest or colony, as well as the use and application of specialized products.
As such, it is not advisable for property owners to attempt to eradicate an ant infestation without assistance from a professional pest control provider.
