Have you ever crushed trailing ants, then wished that you hadn't, because there was a sudden odor of rotten coconuts? If so, then you completely understand how the odorous house ant got its name!

Odorous House Ants are commonly found trailing through kitchens of homes across the U.S. Because it makes only shallow nests, this ant is most likely to enter homes after heavy rains. This ant is little, but fast.

They usually travel in lines, but if they are disturbed or alarmed they will quickly break ranks and run around erratically – releasing their odor as they run. Some people have also equated their odor with a sort of pine scent, though rotten coconuts is the most frequent association.

Small Ants in Your Home

But their odor is not the only unique thing about these tiny ants. They move their homes so often that if they were winged, they could have their own frequent flier program. During the summer, these ants will move their nests as often as every three weeks, and that's not easy to do when you have thousands of ants and multiple colonies in each nest!

Some odorous house ants actually do have wings ... for a very short time. In the spring or early summer (depending on the geographic area), these ants will swarm to breed. After mating, the female may return to the colony to lay her eggs or may venture out to start a new one.

At only about 1/8 inch long, this dark brown or black ant is especially attracted to sweets, such as fruit juices and pastries, but it will also eat a variety of foods, including meats and pastries.

And it can nest just about anywhere ... under stones, logs, mulch, or debris; in the nests of birds or mammals; and inside homes, in walls, window frames, and insulation.

What Can You Do to Control Odorous House Ants?

The first step in ant control is keeping ants out of your house in the first place! Keep Ants Out of Your Home by:

• Trim back trees and shrubbery away from the house to remove this access point. (Ants will climb plants and find cracks and crevices where they can enter your home.)
  
  
• Keep foods stored and tightly covered. Wipe counters and surfaces clean, as ants will feed on grease and crumbs.
  
  
• Do not leave pet food in bowls when pets are not eating – this provides an easy-access attractant to all kinds of ants – as well as other pests, such as mice, cockroaches, and flies.

Get Rid of Ants by:

• Bait – Baits are generally the best option for eliminating ants that have gotten into the home. Ant baits can be purchased at most home and garden stores. Following all label directions, the bait should be placed where ants have been sent to travel. Because ants can be finicky and prefer different types of foods at different times of year, you may need to try different baits. But be patient! – The ants will feed on the bait, then carry it back to the nest to feed the colony. It is through this feeding that the insecticide will be transferred to, and kill, the entire colony.
  
  
• Indoor Sprays – Never spray trailing ants in your home. You will simply kill the workers that are there, but other ants will soon appear – having followed the scent trail laid down by the first set of ants.
  
  
• Perimeter Treatment – Applying a properly labeled insecticide around the perimeter of the home and under siding can help keep ants from crawling in. This can be done by the homeowner, following all label directions; or a pest control professional can be hired.
  
  
• Nest Treatment – If the ant nest can be found, it can be effective to treat the nest itself with a properly labeled insecticide. In some cases, however, the ant species will have multiple colonies, so treating a single nest will not relieve the problem. For this reason, it is important to identify the species prior to treatment.

When using any pesticide, always thoroughly read and follow all label directions and safety precautions. Keep all pesticides out of reach of children and pets.