Ants Invading Kitchens

There is a well-known idiom in The Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms listed as “have ants in your pants.” This idiom is a convenient way of describing someone who is very excited or worked up about something and not able to keep still; someone who is excessively fidgety. That same reaction and effect could easily describe the homeowner who discovers ants in the kitchen.

Ants come in all sizes and colors and are a nuisance to homeowners and business owners. While there are certainly more dangerous and more destructive pests, you do not want ants crawling around in the kitchen helping themselves to your food. Remember, ants are marching across your kitchen floor and up the side of your cupboards or across your kitchen counters with a distinct purpose; they are foraging for food and water.

Odorous house ants are black or dark brown and are of a very small size, ranging from 1/16th to 1/8th inch in length. Their oval, segmented body is much the same of most other ant species. However, there is one very distinguishing characteristic of the odorous ant and that is the offensive smell that is emitted when they are crushed. It is much like a rotten coconut smell. The odorous ants normally build their nest outdoors but, under certain conditions, may move inside homes. Regardless of the location of the nest, these tiny ants will invade your home in search of food. They are known to move in the home in large numbers and contaminate your kitchen and food.

Unlike carpenter ants, the odorous ant is not a threat to the property or structure of the home. Neither are they a major threat for biting and stinging people. The nuisance brought about by odorous ants is their ability to invade in large numbers and work their way inside food containers, eating and contaminating contents. The trick to total eradication is that the entire nest or colony must be destroyed and not just the ants that you see.

Russell’s Pest Control has more than 40 years of experience and our employees are driven to control your ant problem. With their knowledge of pests, Russell’s technicians will know how the ants are getting in the house and from where they are coming. Our technicians will also implement a program for you that will quickly, safely, and effectively resolve your “ants in the kitchen” problem. When you contact Russell’s Pest Control about your ant issues, we will also assist you with several ant prevention tips, identify points of entry, and put exclusion measures in place to ensure that there are no more ants in your kitchen.