Odorous House Ant

Odorous House Ants in El Paso TX

Odorous house ants get their name from the rotten, coconut-like odor they give off when crushed. These ant pests create large colonies with multiple queens that split to form subcolonies. As a result, eliminating odorous house ants can be very frustrating for homeowners. Odorous house ants are non-hostile toward workers from related subcolonies, which allows them to dominate large areas quickly. Referred to as sugar ants, they prefer to eat honeydew which is produced from aphids and mealybugs. Odorous house ants can become an issue when they invade homes during heavy rains when the honeydew of plants is washed away.

Odorous House Ant Habitat

The odorous house ant is resilient and can live almost anywhere. Outdoors, their nests are often found under stones, logs, planters, or under stacks of firewood. Found in kitchens and food prep areas, ants make their way into homes and businesses looking for food. When establishing a nest site, odorous house ants prefer areas near moisture—wall voids near water pipes, heaters, leaking fixtures, and damaged wood are all ideal habitats for them. Foraging day and night, odorous ants invade wall voids, window frames, electrical sockets, bathtubs, and toilet seats.

Odorous House Ant Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Odorous house ants do not sting or bite, however, as contaminate food as they forage in kitchens and pantries. Ants invade homes in great numbers, utilizing trails that originate outside of the structure. Entering through cracks and crevices, they spoil stored food and pantry products. When worker ants and scout ants seek out food for the colony, they leave behind an invisible scent trail from the food source back to their nest. As ants follow the scent trail and access homes, homeowners may become alarmed by the thousands of visible ants.  If an odorous house ant issue is suspected, it is best to contact a professional ant exterminator.