How To Get Rid Of Citronella Ants

Getting rid of citronella ants (also called large yellow ants) on your own can be challenging, but it’s possible with a systematic, professional-grade approach. These ants are often mistaken for termites due to their yellowish color and swarming behavior, but they do not damage wood—they nest in soil under concrete slabs, foundations, or stones, and mainly feed on honeydew from aphids underground. The key to eliminating them is targeting the colony and controlling moisture conditions that attract them. Here’s how homeowners or business owners can manage citronella ants on their own:

Identify the Infestation

Citronella ants are bright yellow to golden brown, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long. They emit a lemon or citronella-like odor when crushed. Common nesting areas include:

Beneath slabs, porches, or foundations
Around cracks in concrete or masonry
Under rocks, logs, mulch, or landscaping timbers
Near damp soil or moisture-prone areas in basements or crawlspaces

Eliminate Attractants

Reduce moisture: These ants thrive in damp environments. Fix leaky pipes, improve ventilation in crawlspaces, and ensure proper drainage around the foundation.
Seal entry points: Caulk cracks in the foundation, gaps around windows, and other openings where ants might enter.
Limit honeydew sources: Control aphids, mealybugs, and other sap-feeding insects on outdoor plants, since citronella ants farm these pests for food.

Treat Active Nests

Citronella ants rarely forage indoors, so simply spraying where you see them won’t solve the problem. You must treat their nesting sites directly.

Outdoor control:

Use a non-repellent residual insecticide labeled for ants (e.g., fipronil, imidacloprid, or chlorfenapyr) around the foundation, cracks, and soil areas where activity is seen.
Apply the product as a perimeter treatment, about 1–2 feet up the foundation and 1–2 feet out onto the soil.
Treat under stones, mulch, and landscaping timbers where nests may be hidden.

Indoor control (if needed):

If ants have entered through slab cracks or expansion joints, inject a dust insecticide (like boric acid dust or a silica-based dust) into the cracks, voids, and crevices.
Avoid using repellent sprays indoors—they may drive the ants deeper into walls or under slabs.

Baiting (Optional Supplement)

Because citronella ants feed primarily on honeydew and do not actively forage for sweets or proteins, baiting is often ineffective. However, if you find trails, try carbohydrate-based ant baits and place them along the trails near entry points.

Monitor and Maintain

Reinspect the treated areas after 2–3 weeks.
Reapply insecticide as needed, following product label directions.
Keep moisture low and maintain a clean perimeter to prevent reinfestation.

Citronella ants often swarm indoors in spring or fall, especially after rain or humidity spikes. These swarms are temporary and do not indicate a structural infestation. If you see winged ants but no continuing activity afterward, the issue may resolve without treatment.

If the ants persist after treatment, are nesting under slabs or foundations that are difficult to access, or you’re uncertain whether they’re ants or termites, it’s best to call our team of licensed pest control professionals. Our professionals can apply specialized non-repellent termiticides and deep-soil treatments that reach hidden colonies safely and effectively.

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Citronella Ants

Our professional pest control is the most effective and reliable way to get rid of citronella ants because these ants typically nest deep underground or beneath concrete slabs, where do-it-yourself treatments can’t reach. While homeowners can address minor surface activity, citronella ants’ colonies often remain active out of sight, and improper treatment can drive them deeper into the structure or cause recurring infestations.

Here’s why our professional pest control is the best option:

Accurate Identification and Inspection

Citronella ants are frequently mistaken for termites due to their color and swarming behavior. Misidentifying them can lead to wasted time and money on the wrong treatment. Our pest control professionals are trained to:

Identify whether the insects are citronella ants, termites, or another species.
Locate primary and satellite nesting sites hidden under foundations, driveways, and crawlspaces.
Assess the moisture conditions and structural vulnerabilities attracting the ants.

This precise identification ensures that treatment targets the correct pest and location.

Access to Specialized Non-Repellent Insecticides

Our professionals use non-repellent insecticides (such as fipronil, chlorfenapyr, or imidacloprid) that citronella ants cannot detect. When the ants travel through treated zones, they unknowingly carry the product back to the colony, eliminating the entire population—including the queen.

DIY sprays are typically repellent-based, which only kill visible ants and cause the colony to relocate rather than die out.
Our professional-grade products penetrate soil and concrete interfaces where citronella ants nest, ensuring long-term control.

Advanced Application Techniques

Citronella ant nests are often located beneath slabs, foundations, and stonework, areas inaccessible without the right equipment. Our pest control technicians can:

Inject liquid or foam insecticides through expansion joints or cracks in slabs.
Apply dust formulations directly into wall voids and crawlspaces.
Treat the soil around and under structures using specialized equipment that ensures uniform coverage.

This level of precision cannot be achieved with household aerosol sprays or surface treatments.

Long-Term Prevention and Moisture Management

Citronella ants are drawn to damp environments and soil rich in organic material. Our professionals not only eliminate the active infestation but also provide recommendations to prevent recurrence, such as:

Improving drainage and ventilation in crawlspaces.
Reducing excess soil moisture around the foundation.
Modifying landscaping or grading to keep water away from structural edges.

This holistic approach ensures lasting control, not just temporary relief.

Safety and Compliance

We use products and methods that comply with EPA regulations and are applied safely for people, pets, and the environment. We are trained in proper dilution, dosage, and application techniques, minimizing risks of overuse or contamination that can occur with DIY efforts.

Guarantee and Peace of Mind

We provide a re-treatment warranty and ongoing protective visits, ensuring the problem is fully resolved. This accountability means homeowners and business owners don’t have to continually re-treat or guess whether or not the ants are gone.

Our professional pest control is the best way to eliminate citronella ants because we combine expert identification, deep-targeted treatment, advanced products, and long-term prevention strategies that typical DIY methods can’t match. What appears to be a minor surface problem often has a much larger underground component, and our trained technicians can safely and completely reach and destroy the colony.

Get Rid Of Citronella Ants With Miche Pest Control

Hiring our team of professionals at Miche Pest Control is an investment in long-term protection, expertise, and peace of mind. Here’s why:

Personalized Service and Local Expertise: We know the specific pest pressures in the area—such as seasonal rodent activity, regional ant species, or local termite threats. Our technicians understand the environment, climate, and building types common to the area, allowing them to provide targeted, effective treatments.
High-Quality, Comprehensive Solutions: As a full-service provider, we doe’t just treat surface problems; we address the root causes. From inspections and prevention to exclusion and ongoing maintenance, we deliver complete, integrated pest management (IPM) programs designed to both eliminate infestations and prevent future ones.
Accountability and Reliability: We live and die by our reputation. We rely on trust, referrals, and repeat business, meaning we're committed to doing the job right the first time and providing exceptional customer care.
Faster Response Times: We respond quickly to emergencies and schedule services sooner than large, national chains. Especially when you’re dealing with urgent pest issues like rodents or wasps, that speed matters.
Customized Treatment Plans: We tailor our services to your property’s specific needs instead of using one-size-fits-all chemical treatments. This results in safer, more effective pest control that minimizes environmental impact and reduces unnecessary pesticide use.
Highly Trained, Experienced Technicians: We invest in training, certification, and continuing education for our technicians. We stay current on the latest pest biology, control techniques, and safety standards.
Long-Term Prevention and Value: Our focus on providing quality service means fewer callbacks, longer-lasting protection, and better value over time. Instead of repeated, temporary fixes, you get strategic solutions that protect your home or business for the long run and provide better peace of mind.

Hiring our team means you get expertise you can trust, faster service, safer and more effective treatments, and long-term results that protect both your property and your peace of mind. Contact us today!