This is a native species. The workers are about 1/16 to 1/8 inches long. They got their name from when they are crushed. It smells like "rotten coconut". The queens range from 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch long. Their bodies are brown to black.
Odorous house ants are omnivorous. This means they feed upon other insects as well as grains. Their primary food is honeydew. Honeydew is produced by aphids and other sap-sucking insects. For the honeydew the ants protect the aphids from any preditors that tries to eat them. They nest in moist soil and forage along trails. When weather conditions change or honeydew production drops they can enter homes.
During the spring this ant swarms. New queens and males fly in search of making new colonies. They are often confused with swarming subterranean termites.
The queens are much larger than the male swarmers.
An exterior treatment with TERMIDOR of your home will quickly control this ant. Should they become a problem in the home, an inside treatment may be necessary.
