Ants are a very common home-invading pest. Odorous house ants even have ‘house’ in their name. These ants get the “odorous” part of their name from the rotten smell they leave when crushed. They are brownish-black, about an eighth of an inch long, and have two antennas. You can find these ants anywhere in the United States. In Pittsburgh, these ants are present but not as much of a nuisance as other ants in the region. Still, they can become a problem for homeowners.

Odorous House Ants Habits

Odorous house ants can be found outside in soil or woodpiles. They eat sweet food, in particular, honeydew. These ants are survivors. They move their nest every three months because of rain patterns. They can also be found inside buildings, tending to gravitate to moist areas.

Threats Posed By Odorous House Ants

Odorous house ants do not create a serious threat to you or your home. They are basically just a nuisance pest. Their only threat is food contamination. When ants gain access to your home they are looking to forage for food and water. If they find easy access to these, they invite their colony to join them and before long you have a full ant infestation.

Odorous House Ant Prevention

There are three basic ways to try and prevent ants from foraging through your home:

• Seal up the exterior of your home. This can be any small cracks in piping, venting, windows and doors.
• Store all food in air-tight containers. This will prevent ants from gaining easy access to your food.
• Keep landscaping groomed away from the exterior of your home. This will eliminate easy access points for pests.

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Odorous House Ant Control

If you have already spotted ants in your home it is time to contact a professional pest control service. At Witt Pest Management we have several different options for ant control. We use the surveillance, baiting, and exclusion solution to help eliminate these pests.