This section contains archived content made available for reference, research, or record keeping purposes. These materials are not actively maintained and may not meet current accessibility standards. All links have been removed. Visit our current website for updated pages.

UC IPM Online UC ANR home page UC IPM home page

UC IPM Home

SKIP navigation

 

UC IPM Home > Antkey > Odorous House Ant > Colony Propogation

How to Manage Pests

Key to Identifying Common Household Ants


Odorous House Ant

Odorous house ant

Ants trailing along sidewalk

Odorous house ant trails are common along sidewalks

Colony propogation

Colonies begin in the spring and summer months by budding, which occurs when a mated queen crawls out of the nest with some workers to establish a new colony. Occasional late spring swarms, or reproductive flights, may occur. Colonies have multiple queens. Odorous house ants invade homes most likely during rainy weather since their natural food supply (honeydew from insects) is washed from vegetation. Ants can be active all year round in homes, but outdoors they overwinter as workers or larvae until temperatures warm in March, when they begin to forage once more.

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2017 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See our Home page, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance.

Acknowledgements Staff-only pages Subscribe (RSS) Contact UC IPM

Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California

© 2017 Regents of the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Nondiscrimination Statement

Accessibility   Contact webmaster.