Date Posted: September 21, 2021
Category: Ants
In Portland, Maine, the beach is never far away; some are even within walking distance. Portland invites you to bring your beach towel, flip-flops, and sense of adventure. Most people do not give ants a second thought while lounging on the beach, but did you know that odorous house ants do not have a problem nesting in the sand? Odorous house ants are at home in many different environments, and Portland residents would be wise to watch for these nasty-smelling foragers.
Little-Known Facts About Odorous House Ants
Odorous house ants measure about 1/16 to 1/8 inches long and are typically brown or black with 12 segment antennae. They give off a strong, rotten coconut-like smell when crushed.
Inside, these nuisance pests can be found in wall voids, near hot water tanks and heaters, pipes, beneath leaky fixtures, and inside wood damaged by termites.
These ants are flexible and can establish nests in all kinds of outdoor environments as well. Some environments friendly to the odorous house ant include marshlands, open fields, beaches, and woodlands.
When they nest outside, odorous house ants hang out in the soil underneath almost any object such as logs, concrete blocks, fallen limbs, and stones. They can also nest under bird and animal nests, stumps, garbage piles, and under mulch in flower beds. If they do not like the living conditions, they will move from one to another until they get comfy.
What Everyone Ought To Know Portland’s Odorous House Ants
The positive news about odorous house ants is that they are not dangerous; however, they are a nuisance to property owners. They become a nuisance when they search for sustenance because they contaminate food sources. Odorous house ants love sweets. Your pantry can provide attractive foods that are high in sugar; these are their favorite foods. When outside, odorous house ants are most attracted to honeydew.
Moisture is vital to the odorous house ant as they tend to build their nests nearby; therefore, rain becomes very important to them. They will often move their nests every three months in search of renewed areas. Some areas that odorous house ants will seek out for moisture sources include:
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Near hot water pipes
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Beneath leaky fixtures
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Around heaters
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Inside damaged wood
In addition to being nuisances, these ants also smell bad. When you crush odorous house ants, they give off a powerful, rotten coconut smell; this can an ongoing issue for your property.
How To Keep Odorous House Ants Away From Your Portland Property
With pests like odorous house ants, taking steps to prevent them is an integral part of the control. Property owners should check their structures inside and out for potential access points into their property.
Some other prevention tips include:
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Cut back trees and other plans from your property.
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Keep firewood and building materials away from buildings.
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Eliminate standing water on your property.
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Seal cracks/openings around the foundation of your property.
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Store food in containers with tight-fitting lids.
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Keep garbage cans covered with tight-fitting lids.
These steps are helpful in deterring odorous house ants, but if they've already made their way inside, you'll need some more advanced methods.
Get Rid Of Odorous House Ants Once And For All
Any species of ant is arduous to get rid of your own. The size of colonies and where they are entrenched make them extremely difficult to find and eliminate. Big Blue Bug Solutions has what it takes to root out ants no matter where they're hiding. We take pride in our professionalism and environmentally friendly approaches to pest control. Call Big Blue Bug Solutions today to get your free estimate and guaranteed service.
