The citronella ant gives off a citronella or lemon odor after crushing a worker, which is the reason for their name. However, some people also call them large yellow ants due to their color or moisture ants because of the areas where they choose to nest.
These ants come from many different species, but the Lasius interjectus or Mayr is the most common. They are commonly found in New England, Pacific Northwest, Mexico and the South of Florida.
Identifying and Controlling Citronella Ant
When the citronella ants invade houses, they will make their nest in high moisture areas. They generally make nests in wood that is damaged by termites or fungus. As a matter of fact, once you see citronella ants inside your home this usually indicates that you have a moisture problem. So, it is very important to find and resolve the moisture problem. You can always replace the wood if you find the ants nest in the damaged wood.
On the outside, the citronella ants will make nests in the soil as well as below porches, slabs, logs, landscape timbers and rocks. They will also nest inside crawlspaces and along the foundations. They often dig galleries underground, creating mounds of soil in the process. There are also times when they will push the soil upward through cracks in slabs and nest below it. Like most homeowners, you might see this soil and believe that you have a termite problem.
When it comes to food, the citronella ants will search more actively during the nighttime. They usually feed on the honeydew that comes from insects which eat plant roots.
Citronella ants generally become a pest whenever the winged ants move from the colonies to mate. When winged ants emerge through slabs, cracks or basement walls, this can be extremely distressing for homeowners. Although they might not damage your home, you should still take steps to remove them quickly.
Once you get rid of the potential nesting spots, this can help to discourage the citronella ant from invading your home. This includes doing things like removing firewood from the ground and keeping stacks of firewood far from the house. A liquid insecticide can be very effective if you want to eliminate the nest from outside. Note that it could be difficult to eliminate the nest if the ants are found beneath a basement floor.
Bait might be the most effective solution if you can find the ant nest. For this treatment, you need to have patience as it could take some time to figure out the most appropriate bait.
The most important thing to keep in mind when eliminating citronella ants is to get rid of the entire colony. If not, the surviving citronella ant will return to build up the population. If you need help, you can always contact a pest control professional.
Identifying and Controlling Citronella Ant
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