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 are very opportunistic and can nest in many different places both indoors and out. Outdoors, odorous house ant nests are usually shallow and may be found just underneath the soil surface. Although these ants do not bite or sting, they are a persistent nuisance pest once they begin foraging indoors in large numbers.

If the nest cannot be located, then baiting is the preferred method for controlling an odorous house ant infestation. An ant bait is a sugar or protein based food source that is combined with a toxicant. It is important when using baits that you do not use a chemical spray to kill trailing ants. Spraying the ants will prevent them from returning to the nest and sharing the bait with the other ants. If colonies are found nesting in a wall void(s), they can be treated by drilling a 1/8 to 1/4inch hole in the immediate area and injecting an insecticidal dust directly into the void.