The citronella ant is a distinctive pest to have around your Merrimac property and one that isn’t necessarily dangerous, though they can be a significant nuisance in your home. You can learn how to get rid of ants by contacting Merrimac pest control for effective ant control and prevention advice for this pest.
What Is A Citronella Ant?
A citronella ant is a yellow-colored ant that doesn’t grow more than 4 mm long. This ant tends to let off a lemony scent when crushed, which it earned its name. Citronella ants prefer to nest in soil and will most commonly be found outside on your property; they sometimes sneak into homes through any cracks or gaps they can find.
Citronella ants are often mistaken for termites due to their similar size and the fact that they can sometimes push soil and mud up through basements or the foundation of your home. This gives the appearance of termite activity and can alarm homeowners – only proper ant control provided by Freedom Pest Control can help you rule out the possibility of termites around your home.
What Do Citronella Ants Eat?
Unlike other ants that tend to scavenge through your home for anything sugary or high protein they can find, citronella ants almost exclusively eat honeydew – a popular name for the excretions of aphids and mealybugs that are on shrubs or other foliage. The more moisture you have around your property and the higher populations of insects like aphids, the more likely you will have a citronella ant infestation that will need outdoor ant control.
Are Citronella Ants Dangerous?
Citronella ants don’t carry a risk of damaging property the same way carpenter ants do, nor are they particularly prone to bringing bacteria into food storage areas via scavenging like most other types of ants. They are less dangerous than most ant invasions, especially as they do not have a stinger or bite humans. Citronella ants are considered a nuisance pest and can heavily populate your property and, when crushed in large numbers, will emit a lemony smell.
What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Citronella Ants?
If you want to know how to get rid of ants, you can follow the ant control and prevention tips listed below. These effective control tactics can help deter this pest from your property.
- Address moisture issues around your property and fix indoor and outdoor leaks. This prevents pools of excess moisture from forming and attracting citronella ants.
- Keep your yard clear of debris such as leaf litter and fallen branches and trim back overgrown shrubbery. Make sure the grass stays trimmed low and treat any infestation of aphids on your property.
- Ensure that gutters on your property are clear and that your yard has proper drainage.
- Seal up cracks on your home’s windows, doors, and foundation to keep this pest from accidentally entering. Also, use window and door screens and weather stripping to pest-proof your home.
Additionally, our experts at Freedom Pest Control implement ant control solutions that are the best option for dealing with an ongoing infestation of citronella ants. Trust in our ant control services at Freedom Pest Control to eliminate citronella ants and claim your property back from this nuisance.