CITRONELLA ANT INFORMATION & FACTS

Citronella ants are small (3 to 4.5 mm) yellow-coloured ants that feed on the honeydew excreted by aphids and mealybugs.  Their name stems from the lemon-like odour they emit when stepped on, crushed or threatened.  In terms of colour, this ant type is not always solid yellow. Their colouring ranges from light yellow to dark yellow, light brown, and reddish yellow to reddish brown. Swarmers (which are winged ants in the colony) are slightly bigger than the worker ants.

Citronella ants prefer to nest outdoors in moist, warm concealed areas. They favour gardens, lawns, fields, pastures, under rotten logs, porches, patios and concrete slabs, and nesting around foundation walls in soil. Citronella ants are often mistaken for termites because they sometimes push soil up through a crack which can be mistaken for a sign of termite damage.

CITRONELLA ANT INFESTATION

Inside homes (which they enter by accident), these ants will build nests in high moisture areas, such as beneath damp crawl spaces or in damp wood behind bathroom tiles.  They can also build colonies under concrete slabs in basements. If you do find large numbers of citronella ants inside your home this may signal a moisture issue, which should be addressed as quickly as possible.

Citronella ants are a nuisance pest. They don’t forage for human food, nor do they cause damage inside a home or even reproduce indoors. When they swarm in the spring season (inside a home or outdoors in nature), these ants often cause serious concern simply due to their large numbers and because they are commonly mistaken for termites.

Signs of a citronella ant infestation:

• Seeing flying yellow ants inside your home or close to your home.
• Small yellow ants entering your home or business through cracks in doorways or windows.
• Finding mounds of soil around nest openings that are close to building foundations, in gardens or lawns, or under yard debris.

If you notice swarms reoccurring in the spring and fall near your home, try to locate the colony and seek professional ant control help. A citronella ant expert will be able to help you locate the nest(s) and devise the best course of action and treatment.  A licenced pest control technician will also help you to prevent an unwanted citronella ant infestation inside your home, should their colony grow.

HOW TO GET RID OF CITRONELLA ANTS

Prevention is key in getting rid of citronella ants.

Follow these tips to help keep these ants from entering your home or finding your home inhabitable:

• Control the moisture inside your home and address leaks urgently.
• Inspect your foundation for cracks/gaps and seal them.
• Use a good quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk to seal exterior cracks, crevices, gaps and holes around places where utility pipes, plumbing, wires or cables enter your home.
• Use screens in your doors and windows and ensure they are in good condition (free of rips and holes).
• Keep drainage flows away from your home.
• Keep your lawn clear and free of organic debris.

Often you can use a vacuum to suck up these ants and remove them from your home.

However, if citronella ants do get inside a home or business and swarm in large numbers (e.g. they come out of cracks in slab), contact a licensed pest control professional for help.

Citronella ants are a nuisance pest and do not pose health risks or cause structural damage. If you’re dealing with a one-off issue with these nuisance ants, a vacuum cleaner is an effective solution for sucking up the ants, especially the swarmers.

If you have recurring annual issues with these ants inside and outside your home, the most effective way to prevent or eliminate a citronella ant infestation is through gaining help from a pest control professional.