Best Bait for Odorous Ants

Odorous house ants (OHA) don't smell bad; however, they smell like rotten coconuts when squashed. There is a distinction in their bodies which is often mistaken with Argentine worker ants, apart from a single "flattened" node concealed under their stomach; it can take a magnifying lens to spot the difference. The name odorous ants (Tapinoma Sessile) came from the rotten coconut smell they emit when crushed.

But what is the best bait for odorous ants? Sweet baits, like boric acid, are preferred by odorous house ants. Odorous ants occasionally consume Protein-based baits. Place the baits in well-protected areas near different indoor and outdoor nests. Bring small portions of the type of bait to determine the best one. Check-in regularly to ensure that the bait is still working and replace it as needed.

Managing Odorous Ants With Baits

Odorous House Ants are native species that can be found all over North America. The odorous house ant, inhabited across the United States, is a common pest ant concern on the Atlantic Coast, New England, and West Coast. Odorous House Ants and Argentine Ants are rarely seen together. 

Odorous ants can be rapidly driven out of a space by Argentine ants. The Odorous ant, like the Argentine ant, Pharaoh ant,  Ghost ant, and Crazy ant, is classified as a tramp ant. They can travel from one place to another and dwell close to humans, being a constant annoyance. They have several queens and numerous colonies.

The ant killer dust or residual spray stress and divide ants into sub-colonies and disperse into the household. This dispersion, also known as budding, increases the count of odorous house ant nests and, as a result, expands the size of the ant problem.

Use a sluggish ant trap when baiting. A fast-kill pesticide, liquid insecticides, and baits only kill scavenging ants, preventing foraging worker ants from bringing the trap back home to serve the queen, brood, and thousands of workers.

When the current ant killer isn't working (the ants aren't touring the trap), switch to effective ant bait. Slow-acting ant traps contain various sweet foods that the ants find in nature. Other insects (protein/grease-based baits), nectar, plant products, and aphid honeydew are some examples (sugar and carbohydrates found in sweet-based baits). 

Selecting a bait necessitates knowledge of the colony's nutrient requirements. To meet all of the baiting requirements, a carbohydrate/sugar-based trap, a fat/grease-based bait, and other protein baits must be ready.

Worker ants will be drawn to the trap and will bring it back to the nest sites, killing the entire colony, together with the queens. Dry baits must be slow-acting, so minor workers are still alive before returning to the ant nests.

The outcomes may not be visible for few weeks. Eliminating workers have little effect on ant colony control since only 1% of a colony's foraging worker ants can give enough food sources to feed nest-bound larvae and queens. Ant stakes or bait stations are the most convenient and environmentally friendly options.

Read More: Homemade Ant Bait: Effective Recipes and Tips

Other Ways of Exterminating Odorous Ants

The initial step in odorous ant control is to bring out the ants. To keep ants away from the house, use the following methods:

• To eliminate the entry point, trim the shrubs and branches of trees away from the house. Ants climb potted plants and look for wall cracks and passageways to enter the home or building.
• Store and cover household food tightly. Ants can feast on tiny crumbs and grease while in search of food, so keep surfaces and counters clean.
• When pets are not eating, don't leave pet food in trays. It attracts all ant species and major pests like cockroaches, rodents, and insects.

Learn More: Pet-Friendly Ant Bait

Treat the perimeter, entrances, and activity areas.

Spraying odorous house ants with liquid pesticides typically results in faster egg-laying. It provokes them to grow more quickly, making them even worst. Eradicating the queens and nests and stopping the egg-laying will better manage and destroy these ants. 

Chemicals sprayed in cabinets and floorboards won't kill the queens or unseen nests in hot water pipes and walls. Spraying outdoor spaces can be costly, tedious, and necessitate regular applications. Using soapy water or liquid ant bait to manage them usually works in most instances in addressing their source and destroying the ant trails.

Eliminate the conditions that enable OHAs to survive. 

Odorous ants can't consume plant oils. A fire ant trap, which frequently consists of soybean oil, isn't practical since it's unappealing to OHAs. If Argentine ants are misidentified as OHAs, an inadequate amount of traps is preferable. 

In appearance, behavior,  and bait preferences, Argentine ants are identical to odorous ants; nevertheless, millions of workers in Argentine ant species surpass those in smelly house ants colonies. Evaluate how much food, water, and shelter the household and surrounding landscape (inside 10 feet) give to OHAs, and then remove as much as possible.

• Mulch, pine straw, wood and leaves, siding, or debris on the surface.

• Growing ivy on or nearby the structure.

• Stacks of firewood

• Landscape timbers (instead, use shaped blocks or other solid objects).

Bait Stations and Gel Baits

Gel baits like Advion Ant Gel Bait can handle odorous ants if they feast on them. Apply the wherever ants are visible. Also, observe and replace the gel whenever the ants consume it. Regular inspection of the trap is necessary, as re-baiting until the ants are gone completely. In several cases, placing out a gel bait once doesn't work effectively.

Maxforce Ant Bait Stations are high-quality bait disks that are simple to use and destroy odorous house ants. Place them where the ants are visible and replace them whenever the trap runs out. The see-through cover on the station enables users to see the bait. 

Substitute the station after the ants have consumed the bait. Continue to replace the stations until all traces of ants have vanished. If insecticidal dust, gel baits, or bait disks are not effective, concentrate the efforts outdoors. Long-term management of odorous house ants requires outdoor control.

Additional outdoor practices:

• After feeding pets, remove the food bowl and put it in an enclosed bag, or clean the bowl to eliminate the crumbs.
• Keep aphids, mealybugs,  scale, and other sucking pests at bay on plants near the structure.
• Trim the shrubs and tree branches that touch the house.
• Grow nectared plants away from home.
• Remove any carrion leftovers close to the house.
• Transfer the outdoor trash bin away from the building or property.
• Clean the waste bins regularly
• Repair any dripping water taps.
• Seal the tube openings into the house as well as other possible ant entrances.

Practical indoor odorous ants management:

• Wipe up any spills immediately.
• After using honey jars, wash them thoroughly.
• Tightly store food to avoid attracting odorous ants.
• Dispose the wastes regularly, especially before holidays, and seal trash bags when they are not in use.
• Seal pipe openings and other ant access points within the building or house.
• Repair leaks as soon as possible.
• When using ant traps, wash foraging trails with soapy water or dishwashing liquid to eliminate the pheromone trail. Repeatedly scrubbing indoor trails may prevent these ants' infestation.

Non-Repellent Spraying for Odorous House Ants

Non-repellent insecticides like Taurus SC or FUSE are the perfect insecticides for getting rid of odorous Ants. Spray Taurus around the exterior walls. Eliminate odorous ants by spraying the border since they will go outside the household. Use Phantom Aerosol in cracks and holes when needed to spray insecticide inside the house.

Non-repellent insecticides are ideal for termites and ants since they cannot trace them and won't avoid them. Odorous ants cannot taste, smell, or even sense non-repellent insecticides. 

Termidor Foam and Fuse Insecticide are effective against odorous house ants, but they are not as effective as liquid baits. Those are also slightly toxic, making them inappropriate in critical areas like health facilities and nursing homes.

For wall voids, crevices, and cracks, using insecticide dust like Timbor and BorActin are advisable. Such products are primarily based on Boric Acid, are non-repellent, and are incredibly safe. Insecticide dust only kills the visible worker ants, not the colony.

Get an Easier Solution for Odorous Ants With Pinnacle Pest Control

There are numerous products people can use that are available on the market to eliminate odorous ants. Also, there are multiple viewpoints on how to manage them. The main thing is that targeting the nests may cease the breeding cycles and reproduction. Whichever strategy is best for the needs, keep in mind the period and possible frustration of using an affordable hardware bait or spray. 

Pinnacle Pest Control provides recurring pest management systems with comprehensive inspections. We address and remove current pest infestations, prevent future ones from forming, and preserve "pest-damaged" places to their original state. Contact us today for outstanding customer experience and same-day appointments.