Citronella Ants
Getting Rid of Citronella Ants
Citronella ants may be found living in the homes of many people without the homeowner being aware of them. These ants are considered to be pests, but other than their swarming behavior that may frighten and annoy homeowners, they are relatively harmless pests. There are several ways to rid your home or garden of citronella ants if they become a problem.
Citronella ants are found living all over the United States. There are two species of these types of ants, one (Acanthomyops interjectus) is larger and more common that the other smaller variety (Acanthomyops claviger). The ants are usually a yellow or brown color and because they have similar appearing bodies and similar swarming habits, they are often confused for termites. They get the name citronella from the scent they emit when they are crushed or injured. Some people report the smell to be a lemon flavor. Typically these ants live in fields and meadows, where they live in subterranean colonies. Their food source appears to be tiny insects called aphids, but they do not eat the insect itself. It is thought that they eat the aphid’s excreted honeydew, which probably gives them their citronella smell.
Often citronella ants will build underground burrows in lawns or under the concrete slabs of homes. This is where they may become a nuisance for homeowners. Like most ant species, these colonies posses worker ants and swarmer ants. The swarms are normally the cause for concern for homeowners as they will see swarms of termite appearing flying insects leaving a crack under their foundation. The homeowner assumes that the ants are damaging the property, but in reality these types of ants do not attack the house or humans inside of it, nor do they reproduce there. Since they eat the excrement of tiny aphids, these ants also do not harm stored goods such as food items. Swarming usually occurs during the warmer summer months and is a harmless occurrence.
Swarms of flying ants may be a nuisance however, and many people will choose to remove the entire colony to prevent repeat swarms from appearing. Finding the colony may be tricky, unless you can see exactly where the ants are coming out from. Look for holes with small mounds of soil located around them. This is where the ants deposit soil they excavate when building their tunnels. Removing citronella ants can be performed using pesticides injected into the colony entrance. Many types of insecticides and pesticides are available for over the counter purchase, but look carefully at the product to determine if they are effective against ants. In many cases the homeowner may have to call in an exterminator to fully kill or relocate the ant colony. Relocation can occur by capturing the queen and relocating her to another spot, where the rest of the colony will follow. Killing the entire colony may require specialized insecticides that only a licensed exterminator can use. Special equipment for applying the chemicals and removing harmful materials may also be needed. Most forms of pesticides are extremely poisonous to other animals as well, so their use should be as safe as possible. Avoid contaminating nearby environments with pesticides. Many people claim that pouring boiling water into the entrances of the colony will kill ants inside, a technique that may be used instead of harmful chemicals.
Preventing citronella ants or other insect species from entering and colonizing your home is relatively easy. Keep the surrounding areas free of debris such as leaves and brush to avoid giving insects a place to breed. It is also a good idea to remove any entrances for insects by fixing cracks and holes in the foundation of the house.