Pests We Treat Photo Album: Basement Swarming with Citronella Ants in Freehold, NJ
Those Ants Are...
The homeowner mentioned a large swarm of ants in his basement, so that's where I inspected. Using my expert pest detective skills, I identified these pests as citronella ant swarmers.
What Are Citronella Ants
Citronella ants are about 3/8 of an inch long and are yellow to red-brown in color. They are named for the citronella-like odor they emit when crushed.
How'd They Get In?
The citronella ant swarmers enter through expansion cracks in slabs or around door or window openings. In this case, they were entering through the sump pump and french drain.
The Ant Treatment
I applied an aerosol treatment into each crack and crevice throughout the basement, which will rapidly exterminate the citronella ants. Next, I applied a non-repellant application throughout the entire basement and along the exterior of the home.
Transferring The Treatment
When the ants come in contact with the non-repellant, they'll unknowingly bring it back to their nest and transfer it among each other. Shortly after, the entire colony is eliminated and the home will free of citronella ants.