The odorous house ant is found throughout North America and is a common house-infesting pest in
Virginia. This pest is often found foraging for food in long trails over household surfaces and can
contaminate food products. Although these ants do not bite or sting, they are a persistent nuisance pest once they begin foraging indoors in large numbers.
Odorous house ants are tiny, about 3 mm in length, and are dark brown to black in color. They can be
taxonomically identified by having a single node on the petiole that is hidden from above by the abdomen.
However, odorous house ants are most easily identified by the coconut odor that is produced when their bodies are crushed. It is from this odor that they get their name, odorous house ants.
These ants are almost always seen foraging in large numbers. When alarmed, the workers will run about in an erratic fashion with their abdomens raised in the air.