How to identify and get rid of pavement ants

Do you remember seeing ant mounds on the sidewalks as a kid and watching the long line of ants marching off to find their next meal? As a homeowner, watching the ants march inside your kitchen may be less exciting.

Pavement ants are common across many U.S. households, nestling into cracks and crevices of sidewalks, driveways, and inside homes. Despite their invasive nature, these ants are relatively harmless and are more of a nuisance than a threat.

In the spring or summer, you may see swarms of winged ants flying around your property. New queens go on these mating flights with males, shed their wings, and start making new nests. Pavement ants make little mounds of sand around the entrance of their nests.

Since they prefer to nest around places with little vegetation, concrete slabs near homes and garages are the perfect location. While they won’t make their nests inside your home, that doesn’t mean they won’t make a stop in your pantry looking for sugary treats. There’s a reason their nickname is sugar ants!

Pavement ants are small, dark brown ants that can be easily identified if you look closely enough. Their head and thorax have long, thin, parallel grooves, and two small spines are at the end of the thorax. Additionally, their narrow waist, called a petiole, has two bumps or nodes.

You might suspect an infestation if they see small piles of displaced soil or sand between cracks in driveways, sidewalks, or near your building’s foundation. These ants are also attracted to sweets, proteins, and greasy foods, often leading them to venture indoors.

How big are pavement ants?

Pavement ants typically grow to about 1/8 inch long.

What other pest looks like a pavement ant?

Pavement ants can be confused with odorous house ants, which are also small and dark-colored but emit a rotten coconut smell when crushed.

These ants are found throughout the Eastern and Midwest regions of the U.S. and in some parts of California and Washington.

Seal up any small cracks, holes, or gaps around the house to keep pavement ants out. You’ll also want to clean up any spills or dropped food, especially sweet foods or sugary drinks.

If you already have ants invading the house, you can deploy ant baits to get rid of them. Baits with slow-acting pesticides won’t immediately kill the workers, allowing them to return the bait to the colony. This will kill the queen, ensuring more workers aren’t sent out to forage for food in your pantry.

Place the bait stations in areas where you’ve seen ants and keep them out of reach of pets or children.

Additionally, removing sources of moisture can help reduce ant activity around your property.

Keep ants out for good with a pest control plan by Pestie. Pestie offers a pro-grade DIY solution that only takes a few minutes to apply. Now, you can get professional protection for a fraction of the price.