It's not often that you can identify a pest by its scent, but with odorous house ants, you can do just that. They're the only local ant species that gives off a rotten scent when you squish it. While the smell might be enough of a reason for you to want to eliminate the ants from your Bay Area property, there are plenty of other reasons to get rid of these pests. Find out more about this common pest and how to get rid of it.
What Is An Odorous House Ant?
The odorous house ant is a small Bay Area ant that is dark brown or black with an uneven thorax. From a distance, this ant doesn't look much different than other types of ants. It's when you accidentally crush the ant that you'll notice a change. As you crush the odorous house ant, it emits a smell of rotten coconut.
These ants are happy whether they're inside or outside. When indoors, they usually nest in wall or floor voids near warmth and moisture. They prefer meaty and sweet foods, so don't be surprised if odorous house ants raid your pantry.
Why You Don't Want Odorous House Ants
Widely regarded as a nuisance ant, the odorous house ant doesn't have a painful bite or sting. Although it can bite, the ant rarely does, and its bite is painless. They do have the potential to contaminate your food but don't cause damage or devastation like other house pests.
Still, you deserve to be comfortable in your own home. Because odorous house ants live in large colonies, they are highly annoying. Their ability to contaminate food and emit a foul smell makes them highly undesirable.
Prevention Tips
Before you find yourself battling an infestation of odorous house ants, there are a few steps you can take to keep them away:
Store Food In Containers
Your pantry and cupboards have plenty of food available to odorous house ants. If you don't want them getting into your sweet foods, store everything in containers with lids. The most effective containers tend to be thick plastic or glass with air-tight lids.
Don't Leave Food On Your Counters
If you have cookies or other sweets sitting on your counters, you're leaving a buffet out for ants. Store your food with care to avoid an infestation.
Clean Regularly
How often do you sweep or vacuum your floors? To deter ants, clean your floors and surfaces as often as possible. Doing so removes crumbs, which takes away potential ant food.
Store Trash In Containers With Lids
The garbage cans inside and outside your home should have lids. Otherwise, the meats and sweets in your garbage can will be too tempting to odorous house ants.
Remove Entry Points
Make your home less accessible to these ants by sealing up cracks and crevices. While you're checking for entry points, look for and seal holes in your screens.
The Only Way To Get Rid Of The Ants
Once odorous house ants are inside your home, there's not much you can do. DIY methods of ant removal are usually ineffective. Unfortunately, most methods don't target every ant. The remaining ants reproduce and remain in your home.
Other DIY methods are downright dangerous; using harsh chemicals without training is a recipe for disaster. By trying to take matters into your own hands, you allow the ants to thrive. As time passes, the issue worsens.
For the best results, you need to contact professionals. Here at Bay Pest Solution, we have the professional expertise you need. Call us at the first sign of an ant problem, and we’ll be happy to help.