Odorous House Ant
Tapinoma sessile
About the odorous house ant
Odorous house ants are one of the most common indoor ants in North Carolina homes. They're harmless — no bite, no sting, no disease — but they're a serious nuisance, forming wide foraging trails along countertops and baseboards in pursuit of sweets, dead insects, and crumbs. Their signature feature: a distinctive rotten-coconut smell when crushed. They nest under sinks, in wall voids, and behind appliances anywhere moisture is available.
Quick ID
2.5–3 mm brown to black body; produces rotten-coconut odor when crushed.
In the Triangle
One of the most-reported indoor ants in Durham and Chapel Hill kitchens, especially after spring rains.
Think you have odorous house ants?
Free inspection from a licensed Castle Exterminators technician — Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Cary & the Triangle. We'll confirm the species and recommend a treatment plan.
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