Odorous House Ant

Tapinoma sessile

Appearance

Image of Odorous House Ant (Tapinoma sessile) | Rentokil Pest Control Australia
  • Brown or black.
  • 1/16 to 1/8 inch long
  • Antennae have 12 segments and are not terminated with a club
  • 6 legs.

Lifecycle

  • Time to adult phase of development is 34-38 days.
  • Typically live for several years.

Habits

  • Feeding - eat most household foods, especially sugary food, eg sweets and fruits such as melon. Also eat pet food.
  • Locations – attracted to moisture. In hot, dry environments nests can be found in house plants and even lids of toilets.
  • Odour - produce a coconut smell when crushed.
  • Colonies - range in size from 100-10,000.