What Cincinnati Homeowners Need To Know About Odorous House Ants
We can all agree that ants are annoying. If you have owned your home for long enough, the chances are high that you have found these invasive pests crawling through your living areas. You may have even spotted them stealing food off your countertops and floors.
One specific ant species is stinking up homes around Cincinnati; odorous house ants. If you don't know much about these problematic invasive insects, you can use some helpful information.
What Do Odorous House Ants Look Like?
All ants have things in common: six legs, antennae, and a natural inclination to work together. Odorous house ants are just like other ants, apart from the fact that they stink. When threatened or squished, this invasive pest produces a nasty smell that is similar to rotten coconuts. Apart from this smell, an odorous house ant is identifiable by its brown to black color, 1/16 to ?" long body, and unevenly shaped abdomen.
Why Odorous House Ants Invade Homes
Three things encourage odorous house ants to invade a home: food, water, and shelter. These pests will most often build a large colony around the exterior of a building and invade through cracks and gaps to scavenge for food and water indoors. When weather conditions become unfavorable for these insects' survival, they might look for ways to migrate their colony indoors. This migration occurs mostly during the coldest months of winter and during times of inclement weather.
Are Odorous House Ants Dangerous?
There is no denying that odorous house ants stink. The question is, do these annoying pests pose any real threats around homes. Thankfully, they do not. Unlike other ants species that live around our area, odorous house ants do not bite, sting, or spread diseases. The biggest problems these pests cause are their aromatic scent and how they contaminate food and drinks while scavenging.
Tips To Keep Ants Out Of Your Cincinnati Home
To prevent odorous house ants from invading and causing trouble around your Cincinnati home, the first thing you need to do is limit their access to food and water. Here are a few places to start:
Thoroughly clean your home at least once a week and do your best to pick up food messes and drink spills as they occur.
Avoid feeding your pets outdoors and clean out their food bowls after every meal.
Store leftovers inside airtight containers.
Pick up fruits, nuts, and berries that fall into your yard.
Repair leaky piping and fixtures in and around your home.
Make sure your gutters are in good working order.
Once you implement these preventative measures, we highly recommend you properly seal your home's exterior. To do this effectively, here are a few exclusion tips to try:
Use a caulking gun to seal up gaps, cracks, and holes in your home's exterior foundation and around windows or door frames.
Make sure your home's window/door screens are in good working condition.
Install door sweep under all exterior doors leading out of your home.
Keep unscreened doors and windows closed as much as possible.
Despite your best efforts, you still may find yourself dealing with an odorous house ant problem. In the end, it's best to partner with the home pest control professionals at 1 Stop Pest Control to eliminate these insects and keep them away.
1 Stop Pest Control Will Keep Odorous House Ants Out Of Your Home
If you do not have the time, money, or desire to prevent odorous house ants on your own and are looking for a better solution to keep these pests out of your home, turn to the professionals at 1 Stop Pest Control.
Our team has the training, advanced treatments, and industrial-grade tools needed to handle any pest problem you and your property effectively face. If you're dealing with ants or other unwanted pests in your Cincinnati home, 1 Stop Pest Control has the solution you need. Contact us today to discuss your options and find a plan that best suits your needs.