Frederic Melton
The odorous house ant, or Tapinoma Sessile, is a species of ant that gives off a pungent odour when crushed that some people liken to blue cheese or rotten coconut. This smell is so noticeable that it has earned the insect its common name. But why do these ants smell like blue cheese? Researchers have found that the same class of chemicals, called methyl ketones, is responsible for the scents of blue cheese and T. sessile.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Odorous House Ant, Coconut Ant, Sugar Ant, Stink Ant |
| Scientific Name | Tapinoma Sessile |
| Length | 1.5-3.2mm |
| Color | Brown to Black |
| Habitat | Huge diversity of habitats, including houses |
| Diet | Honeydew, floral nectar, and other sugary foods |
| Behavior | Social, Polydomous, Polygynous, Eusocial |
| Smell | Blue Cheese, Rotten Coconut, Rancid Butter |
| Life Cycle | Eggs incubate for 11-26 days, Larva stage for 13-29 days, Pre-pupal and pupal stages for 10-24 days |
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The odorous house ant
These ants are native to North America, ranging from southern Canada to northern Mexico, though they are less common in the desert southwest. They are identified by their brown to black color and small size, typically measuring between 1.5 to 3.2 mm in length. The gaster portion of their abdomen sits directly on top of the petiole, which helps to distinguish them from other small, dark, invasive ants.
Odorous house ants are highly social insects, forming colonies that can vary in size from a few hundred to tens of thousands of individuals. These colonies are characterized by multiple nests and multiple reproducing queens, a trait known as polygyny. They employ complex foraging strategies, allocate food based on environmental conditions, and compete with other insects. Their primary food source is honeydew, which they obtain from aphids, scale insects, and membracids. They also forage for floral nectar and other sugary foods, making them common household pests attracted to sweets and sources of water.
In terms of behavior, odorous house ants are scavenger/predator ants that will eat most household foods, especially those containing sugar. They are also known to bite surprisingly hard. When crushed, they release a distress pheromone that signals to other ants that they are under attack, essentially calling for reinforcements. This pheromone is what gives them their distinctive blue cheese-like smell. To avoid secreting this pheromone, it is recommended to vacuum them instead of crushing them.
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Methyl ketones
The odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile) is known to smell like blue cheese when crushed. This is because it produces chemical compounds similar to those found in blue cheese. The scent of blue cheese is caused by a class of chemicals called methyl ketones.
The process of creating blue cheese involves the conversion of fatty acids to methyl ketones. This occurs through a four-step pathway corresponding to the early stages of beta-oxidation. The liberation of fatty acids from triacylglycerols is only the beginning of the process of producing the distinct blue cheese flavor. The complex flavor of blue cheese is influenced by a combination of various chemicals, with methyl ketones being a key contributor.
It is worth noting that while the odorous house ant and blue cheese share similar chemical compounds, the coconut's smell is unrelated. However, when a coconut is buried in the yard and covered in blue mold, it can also produce the same methyl ketones found in blue cheese, resulting in a similar smell.
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Distress pheromones
Ants have a strong sense of smell, aided by the odor receptors on their antennae. They rely on their sense of smell to maintain order in their complex colonies. Ants use pheromones to communicate within their colonies.
Ants deposit trail pheromones that guide nestmates to food sources. They also use pheromones to alert, attract, and evoke aggression in their nestmates. For example, when an enemy penetrates the close environs of the nest, alarm communication is initiated. This usually consists of two or more pheromones, which often serve simultaneously to alert, attract, and evoke aggression. Acoustical signals are sometimes added to the pheromones, including stridulatory chirps that enhance attraction.
The odorous house ant, or Tapinoma sessile, is known to smell like blue cheese or rotten coconut when crushed. This is because they produce chemical compounds similar to those found in blue cheese. The smell is a distress pheromone that signals to other ants that the crushed ant is under attack, calling for reinforcements. To prevent this, it is recommended to vacuum these ants instead of crushing them, as this kills them without secreting the pheromone.
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Ant colonies
The odorous house ant, or Tapinoma Sessile, is an ant species that smells like blue cheese when crushed. This scent is caused by the production of chemical compounds called methyl ketones, which are also found in blue cheese and rotten coconut. The reason these ants produce this particular chemical compound is not currently known, however, it is speculated that it may be a distress pheromone that signals to other ants that one of their colony is under attack.
Ants are social insects that form colonies, which can vary in size. Some colonies consist of only a few dozen individuals living in small natural cavities, while others are highly organized and occupy large territories with millions of members. These colonies are often found in urban areas, where the odorous house ant, in particular, is becoming a dominant pest.
To identify the chemical compounds that contribute to the distinctive smell of the odorous house ant, researchers placed an SPME fiber in a container with the ants to absorb their odor. They then performed the same procedure with containers of blue cheese and coconut. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, they were able to determine that the scent of the odorous house ant is caused by methyl ketones, which are also responsible for the smell of blue cheese, but not fresh coconut.
Interestingly, when a coconut is buried underground, it becomes covered in a blue-green mold that produces the same methyl ketones found in blue cheese and the odorous house ant. This discovery was made when researchers mailed a rotten coconut and noticed that it had begun to turn blue and smell like blue cheese upon arrival. This experiment revealed that the same chemical compounds are responsible for the distinctive smells of blue cheese and the odorous house ant, providing new insights into the chemistry of these ants and their colonies.
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Ant control
The "odorous house ant", or Tapinoma sessile, produces chemical compounds similar to those found in blue cheese, giving off a smell that reminds people of blue cheese, rancid butter, or rotten coconut. The smell is so strong that crushing just one ant can leave your entire finger smelling like it until you wash it. This smell is a distress pheromone that signals to other ants that one of their own is under attack.
If you are experiencing issues with odorous house ants or other ant species in your home, there are several methods you can use to control and eliminate them. Firstly, identify the type of ant species you are dealing with, as different ants have different preferences and behaviours. For example, some ants have a sweet tooth and are best treated with liquid bait, while others may prefer solid or grease-based bait.
One method to get rid of ants is to use ant bait, which is an effective way to kill the entire colony. Ant baits are compact pods containing poison that ants carry back to their colony, eventually wiping out a large number of ants, including those you don't see. Place the ant bait anywhere you see ants moving back and forth, and expect to see a large swarm gather around it.
You can also try some natural, DIY methods using household products such as white vinegar, Borax, essential oils, coffee grounds, or diatomaceous earth. Mix vinegar or essential oils with water and spray the solution directly onto areas of infestation, repeating once a day. Diatomaceous earth is a natural substance made of fossils of algae and tiny crustaceans. It kills ants by absorbing the oils in their exoskeletons, drying them out. Simply sprinkle the powder anywhere you see ants, but avoid breathing it in or getting it on your skin as it can be an irritant.
Additionally, keep your kitchen clean and food sealed away, as food attracts ants and can lead to infestations. Wash dishes regularly, keep food tightly sealed, and avoid leaving sweet food or pet food out on countertops. You can also try pouring boiling water into ant holes near your home to kill many ants immediately, but be aware that this may not be enough to eliminate the entire colony.
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Frequently asked questions
The Tapinoma Sessile species of ants, also known as the odorous house ant, smells like blue cheese when crushed. This is because they produce chemical compounds similar to those found in blue cheese.
Other common names for the Tapinoma Sessile include coconut ant, stink ant, and sugar ant.
Besides blue cheese, the Tapinoma Sessile also smells like rotten coconut, rancid butter, and turpentine.
The smell produced by the Tapinoma Sessile when crushed is a distress pheromone that signals to other ants that it is being attacked, calling for reinforcements.
