The citronella ant gets its name from the lemon or citronella odor that people smell when they crush a worker. Some people call these ants ‘large yellow ants’ because of their color.
They often make their nest under slabs and porches. Sometimes they push soil up through a crack in a slab while they nest underneath. Homeowners sometimes mistake this soil as a sign of termite activity.
Citronella ants are active at night. They feed on honeydew that they get from insects that feed on plant roots. Because of this, people seldom see the workers.
Citronella ants often become a nuisance when the winged ants leave the colonies for their mating flight. Winged ants that emerge through a crack in a slab or a basement wall can be very distressing for the homeowners.