Identification
Bright golden yellow workers (~4 mm); winged reproductives larger and darker. Single petiole node, 12-segmented antennae. Crushed workers smell strongly of lemon or citronella, the diagnostic field test. Winged ants emerging in a basement on a warm winter day are nearly always citronella ant alates, not termites (termite swarmers have equal-length wings, straight antennae, and a uniform body width; ant swarmers have unequal wings, elbowed antennae, and a pinched waist).
Biology & Colony Structure
Subterranean colonies of several thousand workers tending root aphids and mealybugs for honeydew. Alates emerge through cracks in basement slabs, around plumbing penetrations, and from soil-contact wood, often in February through April in heated basements.
Pest Status & Significance
Cosmetic, workers rarely forage indoors and do not damage food, wood, or structure. Importance is almost entirely the alarm caused by indoor swarms mistaken for termites.
Citronella Ant Control Strategy
Confirm termite vs. ant alate first. For citronella ant, treatment is rarely needed beyond sealing cracks. If a structural slab swarm is repeated annually, treat the soil along the foundation with a non-repellent.
Recommended Baits & Active Ingredients
Product names are representative of the active-ingredient class and intended for licensed PMPs. Always read and follow the label; rates, sites, and restrictions vary by formulation and state registration.
| Product | Active | Form | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Termidor SC | Fipronil 9.1% | Spray | Non-repellent soil application around foundation if recurring slab swarms warrant treatment. |
| Drione Dust | Pyrethrins + Silica | Dust | Inject into the slab crack from which alates emerged. |