CITRONELLA ANTS

What Do Citronella Ants Look Like?

Citronella ants are yellow in color and range in length from 3mm to 4mm. The reproductive members of the colony have wings and will swarm from the colony to mate during the spring and summer months. They get their name from the strong lemon odor that they give off when they feel threatened. Oftentimes, when they are crushed, the smell becomes even stronger.

Are citronella ants dangerous?

No, citronella ants are not dangerous. They do not sting or bite and are considered to be nuisance pests. When these ants swarm, they can invade your home in large numbers and are difficult to eliminate without professional help.

Why do I have a citronella ant problem?

Citronella ants are drawn to wood that has been damaged by water and areas of high moisture, so having these pests in your home may be a sign of water damage in your home.  Citronella ants make their way inside homes to create nesting areas as well. They can often be found in wall voids, crawl spaces, basement walls, or other areas of high moisture in homes.

How do you get rid of citronella ants?

Ants in general may seem like an easy pest to tackle, but this is not always the case. Simply smooshing the ants you see can actually cause more harm than good, and using chemicals without the help of a professional can put your family and pets at risk. When you trust a quality pest control company, like Thomas Pest Services, you can breathe easy knowing the entire colony will be eliminated in the safest way possible. Click here to learn more about our pest control services.

Citronella ant prevention tips

To prevent citronella ants from entering your home, you should:

• • Keep firewood stacked up off the ground and stored away from the exterior of your home.
  • Remove piles of rocks, logs, and other organic debris from your property that ants could use to nest under.
  • Repair wood in your home that has been damaged by water.
  • Use a dehumidifier to reduce the amount of moisture in your home.
  • Seal cracks and crevices found in your home’s foundation and exterior walls.
  • Caulk gaps found around exterior windows and doors.

At the first sign of a pest problem, contact Thomas Pest Services. Our 3rd-generation pest control company services Albany, Clifton Park, as well as the Capital District and the Adirondack region, and can help you resolve your pest problem, no matter how severe. We also offer exclusion services that correct the conditions that attract these pests as well as other insects and rodents in the first place.