Citronella Ant (Large Yellow Ant)
Citronella ants tend to mealybugs in their underground chambers. The mealybugs
secrete a sweet honeydew that the ants consume, and in turn the ants move the mealybugs around
and protect them from predators.
(Picture courtesy Alex Wild. Please visit
http://www.alexanderwild.com for more incredible pictures)
Scientific Name: Acanthomyops spp. Order/Family: Hymenoptera/Formicidae
Description: The most common species, the larger yellow ant, is sometimes called "citronella ant" because of the citronella smell that these ants produce when crushed. They are typically from 1/8- to a little laarger than a 1/4-inch in length. They have 12 segments in the antenna which gets gradually larger closer to the tip. Citronella are pale yellow to yellow-orange and have a single node in their petioles and a circle of hairs at the tip of the abdomen.
Biology: The large winged reproductives develop in the fall and overwinter, emerging in swarms, often by the thousands, in the early spring and summer. They often emerge into structures (particularly heated basements) causing the occupants to think that they are termites because of their size and their appearance during termite swarming season which is typically mid-March thru mid April in Michigan.
Habitat: Large yellow ants are mainly soil nesters but may be seen in rotting wood, firewood thats been left out to long and in the foundations of homes, under patios, bricks and large rocks. Indoors they are found in crawlspaces, subflooring and wood that may have a higher moisture content. Outdoors large nests are found under rotting firewood, patio stones, rocks, landscape timbers, etc. these ants tend to excavate large galleries and stack up large amounts of soil adjacent to the nesting site. In some parts of the country, multiple small openings (mounds) may appear throughout the lawn. These ants feed on underground aphids and mealy-bugs (subterranean homopterous insects) at night which is why they are seldom seen inside the home foraging for food.
Control: When ants are nesting inside either moisture rich wood or wood that has been previously damaged by termites it is always a good idea to replace the wood. Rotting firewood that is serving as a nesting site should be removed. These ants are seldom of concern in structures except when the swarmers emerge. Swarmers are best removed using a vacuum cleaner that can be emptied outside in a sealed trashbag. Creating a vegestation and wood free zone around the outside of the home will discourage ants from colonizing near the home. Most importantly it best to call Zebra Pest Control to treat these ants and place a barrier around the house so they can't return.