Pest Library
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All it takes is one pest sighting to ruin the reputation you’ve worked so hard to build.
Odorous House Ant
Tapinoma sessile
The odorous house ant colonizes near heat, in walls and in insulation, and can also be found beneath brick and lumber piles outdoors. It gets its name from the foul odor emitted when the ant is crushed. Colonies range from 100 to 100,000, and the longer you wait to take action, the larger the population will get. That means it's important to act quickly to protect your business.
RISK LEVEL:
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
Risk is defined as how much damage each pest can be to you, your family, or your home
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| Class: | Order: | Family: | |
| Insecta | Hymenoptera | Formicidae | |
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| Size: | 1/16-1/8 inch (1.5-3.2mm) |
| Color: | Dark brown to black in color |
| Characteristics: | On average about 2-3mm in length and range from brown to black in color. Also known as coconut ants, they are named for the odor they produce when they are crushed. Almost always seen foraging in large numbers and run around in an erratic manner with their abdomens sticking out in the air when they are alarmed. |
| Geographic Range: | Found throughout North America and very common in Virginia |
| Food: | Scavenger/predator ant that eats other insects, and many household foods, especially those that contain sugar (also sweets, especially melons) |
| Biology: | Odorous house ant colonies can contain around 10,000 ants and contain numerous reproductive females that can establish subsidiary colonies. Ants from different colonies are not aggressive toward each other. |
- Attracted to moisture, so standing water should be eliminated
- Firewood, rocks, and other materials should not be stored near buildings as it encourages nesting
- Most commonly appear in late winter and early spring
- Indoors: nest found in wall voids, hot water pipes and heaters, behind paneling, under carpeting, and beneath the floor.