the Giant House Spider and the Hobo Spider

Ants are some of the most successful insects on the planet, thriving in almost every environment except the polar regions. They have diverse lifestyles: some scavenge plants and animals, others farm fungus, tend aphids for honeydew, or prey on insects. There are even ants that enslave other ants!

One of the most common ants you might find in homes is the "odorous house ant." The person who discovered them thought they had a distinctive smell when crushed, though not everyone can detect it. These ants are everywhere and often nest under objects on the soil. Their colonies can have over 10,000 workers and 10 to 15 queens. They frequently establish new nests by splitting the colony and moving several queens and thousands of workers.

Odorous house ants are scavengers with a sweet tooth. They usually forage within 10 to 20 feet of their nest and will move when resources run out. Like many ants, these workers (all female but infertile) use chemicals called pheromones to communicate. The rear segment of an ant's body, the "gaster," stores and digests food. Glands on the underside of the gaster release a pheromone that signals other ants to food. Before feeding, the gaster rides high off the ground. After feeding, it drags on the ground, leaving a pheromone trail for others to follow. When the food is gone, late-arriving workers stop dragging their gasters, and the pheromones evaporate.

These ants are tiny (less than 1/8 inch) but can be tough to control. Most people just smash them when they first appear, which is ineffective. Within a few days, more ants are wandering around. 

Cleaning up might make them disappear for a while, but they usually come back.

At this point, many people head to the store for some "Bug Death" spray, which can go terribly wrong. If you're lucky, a knowledgeable salesperson will direct you to ant bait. 

Since there are usually several queens in a colony, they can replace workers almost as fast as you can kill them with a spray. Also, most over-the-counter ant sprays are highly repellent.  Ants are sensitive to these chemicals and will try to avoid them. If you miss the nest, you might disrupt it, causing it to fragment into multiple nests, spreading the problem.

Prevention is key. Here are some tips:

• Avoid storing anything against the foundation. Keep pallets, firewood, lumber, pet food dishes, and trash cans away from the building or on a stand.
• Use landscape fabric under landscaping, not plastic, which creates a perfect nesting place.
• Avoid plants like roses or ivy close to the building, as they support aphids that produce honeydew.
• Keep plants away from walls and roofs to prevent pathways onto your home.
• Don't store empty beverage cans or bottles in your home, as the sugars are irresistible.
• Keep hummingbird feeders away from the house.
• Keep your home dry by using exhaust fans when cooking or bathing to prevent condensation.
• Remove foundation vent covers before April.

Lastly, if you get odorous house ants inside and decide to treat them yourself, never spray them.