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One of the most common ant pests we have in our Pittsburgh service area is the odorous house ant. This ant pest gets its name from the fact that it smells bad when crushed. Some describe this smell as rotten coconuts. Others say it smells sickly sweet. When they get into your home, they can be a big problem because they can enter homes in large numbers. Here are some things you should know about these pesky ants.

Why Odorous House Ants Come In

There are three main reasons you'll see these ants inside your home. Understanding them can help with preventing an odorous house ant infestation in your Pittsburg home.

High Population — Before odorous house ants get into your home, they'll appear in the vegetation near your home. This is because they feed on the honeydew created by plant-damaging pests such as aphids and whiteflies. The more odorous house ants you have near your home, the greater your chances of an infestation. It is important that you know what to do when you see these ants around your home.

Entry Points — If you have ants inside your home, it is because you have entry points. These are tiny ants; so, it doesn't take much of an entry point to let them in. You'll have to inspect your exterior walls and foundation closely to see these openings and seal them. Some common entry points are under doors that don't have door sweeps, through gaps in weather stripping around doors, and through holes created by wood-damaging pests.

Moisture — When these ants get into your home, they're usually not looking for food. They can get all the food they need from aphids, whiteflies, and scale insects. If they're in your home, it is likely that they came inside in search of moisture. For this reason, you're most likely to see them around faucets and sinks.

Odorous House Ant Problems

While they don't come inside in search of food, they can get into your food. If they do, you'll find them covering your food packages by the hundreds. Odorous house ants are not considered to be a disease threat, but it is definitely unpleasant to have them get into your food. Mostly, these ants are just a nuisance because there are very few people who actually like having large numbers of ants crawling around inside their home.

The Best Protection Against Odorous House Ants

If you don't want these ants in your home, your best chance of keeping them out is to invest in a residential pest control program. Residential pest control programs, like TopCare, TopCare Plus, and TopCare complete, come with routine visits from a licensed pest control professional, and an application of residual pest control products that work to control a wide range of pests. This barrier works to repel and eliminate ants and the insects they rely on for their sustenance (like aphids).

If you choose TopCare from Witt Pest Management, you'll get coverage for more than 40 common pests that can get into Pittsburgh homes. Many of these pests are not nearly as harmless as odorous house ants. We have pests in our area that can present a serious health threat to your family, and pests that can damage your home and your belongings. Let us help you protect your health and property. Reach out to us today and schedule a visit from one of our pest control experts. We'll let you know what pest pressures you're dealing with in your yard and show you what works best to manage them. We're here to help. 

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