How to Get Rid of Odorous House Ants

Odorous house ants, also called sugar ants, are one of the most common types of pests found trailing through kitchens, especially during the spring and summer. If you step on them, these tiny bugs emit a strange odor, like rotten coconut, blue cheese, or an odd pine scent. Instead of crushing them, learn how to eliminate these bugs and their nests without the stink by using a few methods simultaneously.

What Do Odorous Ants Look Like?

Dark brown or black odorous house ants are tiny, measuring about 1/16 to 1/8 inches long and they are fast on their feet. Some odorous house ants have wings for a very short time.

These ants swarm to breed in the spring or early summer. After mating, the female may return to the colony to lay her eggs or venture out to start a new one.

What Attracts Odorous Ants?

Odorous ants enter homes after heavy rains because they are escaping their flooded nests in the ground. They set up indoor nests that are moist and warm around hot water pipes, under sinks, or inside walls. This ant is especially attracted to sweets, such as fruit juices and pastries, but they will eat other greasy foods, including meat.

Signs of Odorous Ants

You'll know you have odorous ants because of their distinct smell. They usually travel in lines, but if they are disturbed or alarmed they will run around erratically, releasing their odor as they scatter.

5 Ways to Get Rid of Odorous Ants

Place Baits (Most Effective)

Use baits purchased at most home and garden stores as the best option for eliminating ants in the home. Follow all of the label's directions.

Place the bait where you've seen the ants. Because ants can be finicky and prefer certain types of food at different times of the year, you might need to try various baits. But be patient. The ants will eat the lethal bait and carry it back to the nest to feed the rest of the colony and the queen.

Use Sprays

Kill odorous ants on contact with a DIY spray. Fill a spray bottle with liquid dish soap and water and aim it at the ants. However, the spray does not affect other ants back at the nest. More ants will soon appear because they are following the pheromone scent trail left by the ants you killed. It's best if you use spray, in addition to other methods, to help thoroughly remove the ants.

Eliminate Pheromone Trails

Remove the scent trails, or pheromone trails, that odorous ants leave behind so other ants can't find the food sources or nests. Erasing these trails prevents new ants from gathering in your home. A good DIY spray is a mix of 50/50 white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, shake, and spray it on ant trails and nearby spots where you saw the ants trailing. Let the vinegar and water solution dry naturally and don't wipe it up.

Treat Your Home's Perimeter

Apply a properly labeled insecticide around the outside perimeter of your home and under the siding to prevent odorous ants from crawling in. Follow all directions on the product label.

Treat the Nests

Find and treat an odorous ant nest with a properly labeled insecticide. Look for nests anywhere indoors, such as in walls, window frames, and insulation. In some cases, however, the ant species will have multiple colonies, so treating a single nest will not relieve the problem. It's also tough to kill the queen odorous ant because it can withstand extreme temperature changes.

How to Prevent Odorous Ants

Keep odorous ants out of your home with these ant control tips:

• Trim back trees and shrubs away from the house to remove easy access points. Odorous ants will climb plants and find cracks and crevices that lead into your home.
• Place outdoor ant baits to keep odorous ants from entering your home.
• Keep foods in your kitchen tightly covered and stored.
• Wipe kitchen counters and surfaces clean so odorous ants can't feast on tiny crumbs and grease.
• Remove pet food in bowls when pets are not eating. Pet food attracts all kinds of ants, as well as other pests, such as mice, cockroaches, and flies.

When to Call a Professional To Treat an Odorous Ant Infestation

Call in a pest control professional if you continue to see these tiny odorous ants despite your best DIY efforts. A pest control service will apply commercial insecticides, locate the nests, and destroy them.