Odorous house ants are the tiny ants that trail across kitchen counters and give off a rotten-coconut smell when crushed. They are one of the most persistent indoor ants in the region.

How to identify the Odorous House Ant

Very small, brown to black, about 1/8 inch, with an uneven thorax. The telltale sign is the coconut-like odor when one is squashed.

Behavior & biology

Colonies have many queens and nest in wall voids, under floors, and outdoors under mulch and stones. They forage in trails toward sweets and moisture.

Why Odorous House Ants are a problem

They contaminate food, form long persistent trails, and split into new colonies when disturbed by sprays — which is why over-the-counter products often make them worse.

Signs of an infestation

Steady trails along counters, baseboards, and plumbing lines, clustering around sweets and spills, and the coconut odor when crushed.

How we handle Odorous House Ants in the CSRA

Non-repellent baiting that the workers carry back to the queens is the fix. Our pest control program targets the colony, not just the trail. Call 803-226-3155 to schedule. Browse the full pest library.