Odorous ants are a ubiquitous pest control problem for homes and offices throughout Langhorne and the region. Seeking food and shelter, these ants may make their way indoors in almost any season. Once a way inside has been discovered, the ants will continue to use it until it is blocked.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of property owners are not trained to find the tiny cracks that admit pests to the interior of structures. It is not unusual for people to think that their building is fairly pest proof, only to be confounded by the sight of small black ants gathering wherever food is kept or eaten.
Odorous ants are among the most common ant species to make their presence known in residences, offices and industrial buildings. Though it is never pleasant, the sight of these industrious ants is a familiar one to many people. This is because odorous ant infestations are a yearly occurrence, one that seems to happen regardless of whether ant spray is used or not.
The reality is that the ants will continue to come indoors as long as there is an opening in the building's exterior and food is available. Part of the answer is to eliminate these openings and to revamp food storage procedures to make the building pest proof. The rest of the answer is to hire a pest control professional who can eliminate the odorous ant nest, provide thorough cleanup services and shore up the building so that future pest problems do not happen.
WHAT DO
ODOROUS
ANTS LOOK LIKE?
Odorous ants can be difficult to distinguish from other ant species because of their small size and nondescript black or brown coloring. The most frequently seen colony members are the workers, which are only about one-sixteenth to one-eighth of an inch in length.
Exterminators may identify odorous ants by the flat node between the abdomen and thorax, but the more obvious characteristic is this pest's smell. The distinctive scent of rotting coconut actually may permeate rooms or whole buildings in which the infestation is particularly large. If the problem is not this severe, then the exterminator may crush an ant to see if it gives off this telltale odor.
WHERE DO
ODOROUS
ANTS LIVE?
Some ant species are readily identifiable based on their finicky nesting habitat. This is not the case with odorous ants, which are just as likely to nest indoors as out. Similarly, these ants may choose to nest in loose soil or in a woodpile. A stack of rocks or an overly thick layer of garden mulch also may provide good nesting habitat.
Indoor nests may be in any of dozens of locations. Odorous ants do require a certain level of humidity in their nesting habitat, so if the building has any particularly damp rooms, a water leak or issues with condensation, then these are the most likely places to find the nest. Water-damaged wood may be particularly attractive as it is easier to excavate.
WHAT DO
ODOROUS
ANTS EAT?
Certain insects live beneath the ground's surface, eating the roots of many plants. These insects then excrete a substance called honeydew. This is the odorous ants' favorite food, and seeking a constant supply of it keeps odorous ants below ground for much of their life cycle. When temperatures are balmy during the summer, odorous ants have no problem finding as much honeydew as the colony can eat. Autumn leads to a decline in the population of honeydew-excreting insects. Accordingly, odorous ants are more likely to forage for food indoors during the fall than at any other time of year.
Worker odorous ants that make their way indoors are primarily attracted by the promise of sweet foods like sugar, honey, syrup, jam, baked goods and fruit. However, the species also requires protein, a substance normally acquired by eating insects. When indoors, odorous ants may be seen eating meat or pet food as well as dairy products.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY
ODOROUS
ANTS
Odorous ant colonies that maintain an outdoor nest generally do not cause property damage. Nonetheless, the species may establish a nest that is close to man-made wooden structures like fences and decks. If any of the wood in these items is unfinished or has been damaged by water, then odorous ants may choose this wood as a nesting site.
Similarly, odorous ant colonies may nest indoors, particularly if they find damaged wood. This wood is much softer and easier to excavate. Any existing damage will be made worse by an odorous ant infestation.
ARE
ODOROUS
ANTS AGGRESSIVE?
Like many insects, odorous ants are well-adapted to spend the majority of their lives underground. Even when they make their way indoors, these ants are solely focused on feeding the colony, so they take little notice of people. They are capable of biting, but given their small size, these bites generally are not considered painful.
DO
ODOROUS
ANTS CARRY DISEASE?
Odorous ants may pose a health threat in certain situations. People are more at risk for being diagnosed with food poisoning whenever a pest infestation is underway. This is because pests, like odorous ants, enjoy many of the foods that people eat. However, they also may go into drains, garbage cans and other dirty places immediately before walking across a food preparation surface or invading a bag of cookies. Contaminants that are picked up in garbage cans are carelessly redistributed into food and food preparation surfaces, exposure to which can make people sick.
HOW TO DETECT
ODOROUS
ANTS
Signs of an odorous ant issue include:
These indications imply an odorous ant problem:
• A rotting coconut smell permeates an indoor space • Ants are observed in large numbers somewhere on the building's exterior • Ants are found in kitchens, pantries, cafeterias or other places where food is stored or consumed
HOW TO PREVENT
ODOROUS
ANTS
To help prevent odorous ant issues the following steps should be taken:
• Repair or replace any damaged wood on the building or property • Discard unused lumber or woodpiles • Ensure that gaps and cracks in the building are sealed • Clean gutters and downspouts once or twice a year • Keep dining and food preparation areas clean • Fix water leaks upon discovery • Prevent foliage from touching the building's exterior • Keep piles of wood, yard debris and lumber at least 20 feet away from buildings
HOW WE TREAT FOR 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.
