Smelly house ants: a smelly problem

Odorous house ants have become a serious problem in the United States in recent decades. When crushed, this species gives off a strong smell similar to that of rotten coconut; hence its catchy name. Although somewhat small at only an eighth of an inch, this indoor pest can survive in many environments and has the ability to spread quickly. They are brown to black in color with a single node and an uneven thorax, and they closely resemble the smaller ghost ant. Once their primary nesting location is discovered, they are fairly easy to remove, but left unchecked, this colony will thrive in almost any habitat.

A unique characteristic of the smelly house ant is its current society, which could be made up of tens of thousands of individual ants spread over many colonies. Often there will be numerous queens located along this network, and each of them can produce one egg a day. From birth to adulthood, this species takes less than a month under normal circumstances, and since food is openly shared among all local colonies, its growth potential is enormous. When its main colony reaches a maximum size of around 10,000 workers, a queen will leave the nest and begin searching for resources to develop a second nearby colony. Once it’s established a bit, the workers from the first colony will help feed the hatchlings by bringing nearby nutrients to share, and they will also bring the food sources from that location back to the original colony. In a well-established environment, there may be hundreds of small colonies that support and live in one main location. The smelly house ant also has a broad diet that enhances its ability to survive. Although they prefer sweets and sugars, they are perfectly capable of absorbing the sustenance of other insects. They have a particular fondness for cantaloupe and honeydew and, unlike many species of ants, they pierce during the day and at night. The odorous house ant also needs water to survive, so its colonies are usually built within humid areas.

Getting rid of these pests from your home can often be difficult because they are so widely dispersed, but like any insect, they will only remain as long as there are abundant sources of food and water. If you find this species in your home it is vital that you remove and eliminate any of these nutrients as quickly as possible. The main objective is to locate the main colony of the smelly house ant and apply pesticides in a generous amount and soak; the chemical cypermethrin seems to work better in this species. Not only will this destroy the main infestation, but due to its trading habits, it will likely kill the others nearby as well. Of course, if these colonies are visible, they should also be sprayed heavily. If ants have taken up residence within walls or other nearly impossible-to-reach places, a licensed professional with extensive knowledge of this species will often be required to decide the most effective method of eradication.