Odorous House Ants Are Virginia’s Number One Ant Pest

By Gene Wright

Alexandria, VA – Are you noticing tiny ants around your Alexandria home? There is likely a reason they are sticking around.

There are over 13,000 ant species throughout the world, but none wrinkle the nose as much as odorous house ants. As the name suggests, these ants release a strange odor when they are crushed. The smell is often described as blue cheese, rancid butter, or rotten coconuts.

Do not let these ants rent out a room in your beautiful Alexandria home! Instead, read this guide to learn more about how to get rid of odorous ants.

Ridding your home of odorous ants

Odorous house ants are native to the United States. They live in colonies of up to 100,000 ants and are characterized by:

· A size between 1/16” to 1/8”

· Brown or black color

· A segmented, oval body shape

· Six legs

Odorous ants eat dead insects, sugary sweets, and meat. You might find them around your home after a party. Leaving food out can attract these critters into your household.

These ants also make their homes in:

· Exposed soil

· Under stones

· Logs

· Mulch

· Debris

They often nest in wall and floor cracks as well.

Odorous ants target kitchen pantries and cupboards. Make sure to keep these areas clean and free of crumbs. Otherwise, you are bound to find these ants in your Alexandria home.

How serious are they?

Odorous house ants do not pose a threat to your health, but they can contaminate the food or waste around your house. And they also stink when they are crushed.

Odorous ants often invade kitchen storage areas, like cupboards. This gives them the chance to ruin your food, which could cause frustration and wasted money.

These pests also bite. While it will not cause much pain, it can become irritated.

How do I get rid of them?

Over-the-counter liquid or aerosol insecticide may cause more of a problem than a solution for these ants. These products will kill the ants they touch but often cause the main colony of ants to scatter and create new nests. The best way to get rid of odorous house ants is to call a professional. Specialists use product-chemistries specific to these ants and can develop a custom plan to keep your home bug-free.

You can also prevent odorous house ants from crawling around your home in the future.

First, make sure you eliminate standing water around your home. Ants are attracted to moisture. Look for puddles or sources of water leaks near the house.

Next, cut back any tree branches or plants that are near or touching your home. Ants use these branches to get inside. They might also use cracks or tiny openings to crawl into your home, so close those gaps!

Check that any firewood, yard debris, or building materials are stored away from your home. Pests, including odorous house ants, build their nests in these materials.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand with these or other pests, we are here to help (planetfriendlypestcontrol.com).

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