Odorous House Ant

Tapinoma sessile

Small, shiny black ant 1/16-1/8-inch in length that emits pungent odor when crushed.

Description:

Odorous house ants are among the most common ant species encountered by homeowners in the Midwest. They are extremely difficult to control due to their nomadic inclinations, omnivorous feeding practices and large population sizes (thousands of individual ants per colony). Odorous house ants forage day and night along distinct, usually detectable, trails. These trails are typically used to travel between nesting and feeding sites.

Biology and Behavior:

• Small, black, shiny ant 1/16-1/8-inch long
• Emits a pungent odor when crushed
• Communicates with pheromones (insect communication chemicals)
• Colonies grow large (thousands) with multiple queens (egg-producing ants)
• Numerous in and around structures and generally form distinct trails
• Opportunistic nesters (nest almost anywhere) 
• Feeds on sweets? and dead animals and insects 
• Feeds on fluids excreted by plant-feeding insects such as aphids and mealy bugs 
• Runs erratically with abdomen extended in air when disturbed

Control Tips:

• Remove food and moisture sources (i.e., leaky faucets and hoses, pet bowls)
• Keep shrubs, vines and tree limbs trimmed away from structure
• Mulch should be less than 3-inches deep; gravel perimeters are best
• Remove garbage daily and store refuse-holding containers outside
• Fill window and door frame gaps, utility openings and cracks with a sealant 
• Remove leaf litter and yard wastes from foundation
• Don't stack lumber, firewood, bricks or other debris next to foundation
• Treat plant-feeding insects with appropriate insecticide
• Wash ant trails with a mild detergent to eliminate pheromone cues

Action Pest Control Services

• TermaPest
• Tramp Ant Control
• Pest Proofing