| Description:
Odorous house ant workers are
brown to black and 1/16-to 1/8-inch
long. The thorax has no spines,
and the petiole has one segment
which, when viewed from above,
is hidden by the rest of the
abdomen. There is a slit at
the tip of the abdomen instead
of a circlet of hairs. The best
identifying characteristic is
the "rancid butter"
smell these ants produce when
they are crushed; hence their
name. When alarmed, the workers
scurry around with their abdomens
raised in the air.
Habits:
Odorous house ants often nest
outdoors under stones, logs,
and in the nests of larger
ants. They con also nest indoors
in wall or floor voids, around
heat sources, (e.g., hot water
pipes and heaters, crevices
around sinks and cabinets).
Odorous house ants travel
in trails and prefer sweets,
although they eat almost any
household food. They usually
invade structures during rainy
periods after honeydew on
plants has washed off.
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