Odorous House Ants
Odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile)
Nests of this very common household pest are found in a variety of situations both indoors and outdoors. Outdoor nests are usually located underneath a board, stone or some other object. The favorite nesting spots indoors appears to be wall voids and beneath floors. Odorous house ant colonies are large (up to 100,000 ants) and often contain several active queens. They prefer sweet foods and forage along regular trails indoors. Honeydew is one of their favorite foods and they often enter homes after heavy rainfall or late in the season when honeydew becomes less abundant.


Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
Multiple infestations of invasive water garden plants discovered this fall in southeast Michigan
Published on November 24, 2021
-
Caring for water gardens in fall reduces problems in winter and spring
Published on September 1, 2021
-
MSU Extension Water Programs Lakes, Streams and Watersheds
Published on April 7, 2020
-
Stop the Cray – Drink Away! A look inside a new collaboration for invasive species education
Published on June 8, 2023
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.