Odorous House Ant Identification & Prevention

Small, shiny, black ants 1/16-1/8-inch in length that emit a pungent odor when crushed.

Description

Odorous house ants are among the most common ant species encountered by homeowners in the Midwest. They are 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 travel between nesting and feeding sites.

Biology And Behavior

• These small, black, shiny ants are about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch long.
• These ants emit a pungent odor when crushed.
• They communicate with pheromones (insect communication chemicals).
• Colonies grow large (thousands) with multiple queens (egg-producing ants).
• These ants are numerous in and around structures and generally form distinct trails.
• They're opportunistic nesters and will nest almost anywhere.
• They feed on sweets, dead animals, and other insects.
• They feed on fluids excreted by plant-feeding insects such as aphids and mealybugs.
• They will run erratically with their abdomen extended in the air when disturbed.