Are odorous house ants dangerous?

Are odorous house ants dangerous?

Odorous house ants are not dangerous, but they can contaminate your food as they forage. They are considered to be nuisance pests.

What is that smell when you kill an ant?

You just killed some Odorous House Ants – also called “coconut ants” or “the sweet ant” – from the rancid coconut smell they release when they are crushed. This smell is a defense mechanism which alerts the other ants in the colony that something is wrong.

Where do odorous house ants live?

Odorous house ants thrive both indoors and outdoors. They can live virtually anywhere, in a variety of conditions. Outside, these ants nest in the shallow soil beneath stones, boards, logs, mulch, debris, etc. They are most likely to invade buildings during rainy weather or in the fall.

Do ants let off a smell?

They give off a bad odor, like urine or rotting coconut. The odor is a defensive mechanism that is sprayed from their anal glands. They are also called "sugar ants" because they are attracted to any source of sugars, especially in the home.