These dark brown to black ants range from 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch in length. They are uniform in color and have light-colored appendages and mandibles. When viewed from the side, you may notice that they have an irregular-shaped thorax and a single, flattened node between the thorax and abdomen. But you won’t have to look hard to tell these ants apart from most others. They can omit an unpleasant odor when crushed.
If you look for these ants in your yard, you’ll find them nesting in soil, particularly underneath stones, wood, and other organic debris. Unlike many ant species, they do not create prominent mounds. They prefer to develop shallow nests.
When odorous house ants enter homes and structures, they nest inside wall and floor voids, near sources of warmth and moisture, particularly bathrooms. Kitchens also attract these ants because they are close to food.
These ants have a sweet tooth, so they are attracted to sweet natural food sources such as nectar and honeydew. When odorous house ants come indoors, some of the foods they prefer include:
While odorous house ants prefer sweet foods, they will also eat meat, dairy products, other insects, and more.
Not directly. Odorous house ants are not known to bite and do not possess a stinger. However, they can present an indirect threat. When they climb into trash receptacles and other unsanitary places, they can spread tiny organisms associated with human diseases, such as salmonella.
Odorous house ants are highly mobile. They can scale vertical surfaces and climb across ceilings. When they come to a small crack, their size allows them to slip through easily. If you have any hole in your exterior, they can find it, particularly if it is low to the ground. Here are a few of the most common ways they enter structures:
Finding all of the potential entry points these ants can exploit is not easy; routine pest treatments are highly recommended for the best protection.
Food, moisture, and ideal habitats will attract odorous house ants to homes and properties in the Phoenix area, including the following:
If you’ve noticed odorous house ants in your home or yard, contact Termio Pest Control for help eliminating these nuisance pests. Our year-round home pest control services are ideal for keeping ants and other house-infesting pests out!
To keep odorous house ants out of your home, we recommend removing what attracts them and ensuring they can’t get inside. For example, remove flowering weeds, address aphid problems, and keep trash receptacles covered. Other prevention tips include:
If you need expert pest control and a hassle-free solution to your ant infestation, contact Termio Pest Control for assistance.
Aaron is a very thorough person and takes pride in his work. He listens to your concerns and addresses them, then follows up with you to let you know what action(s) was taken. I highly recommend Termio Pest Control as this company has been servicing my home for at least 3 to 4 years, and does a great job every time.
Ed O.
Queen Creek, AZ
Termio and Messiah B. in particular have always provided us with excellent service. He is always professional and easy to work with. He is very knowledgeable about AZ termites and can put it into words people can understand. I appreciate his expertise.
Susan S.
Queen Creek, AZ
We've had Termio service since we moved into our current home and they treated this house for the previous owners, too. Never had issues with bugs or insects in the house at all. Service is always on time. Patty makes sure every time to thoroughly treat all areas around the house. Easy decision to stay with this service. Thanks.
Robert C.
Queen Creek, AZ
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