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Pavement ant information and control - Active Pest Control

Pavement Ant

Facts & Identification

Actual Size 1/16″ to 1/8″

Characteristics: Light to dark brown to blackish; dark parallel lines run down the head and thorax.

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: The reproductive males and females have wings.

Habitat: Nests are located in the soil in the open or under stones and pavement, masonry or wood, near sidewalks, patios, and driveways. 

Habits

  • Attracted to greasy and sweet foods.
  • New colonies are established after mating flights in June and July. 
  • Construct nests beside and under sidewalks, driveways and foundations.

Pavement Ants in Georgia

Pavement ants (Tetramorium immigrans) are one of the most common ant species in Georgia. They often make their homes in the cracks of sidewalks, driveways, and building foundations. 

These ants are known for their ability to build nests in concrete slabs and pavement cracks (hence their name!), though they often infiltrate homes and businesses in search of food. As a result, these pests can become a significant nuisance if not properly managed.

The pavement ant gets its name from its habit of nesting beside and under sidewalks, driveways, and foundations. These ants pile the dirt removed from building their nest into a mound on top of the pavement. New colonies are established after mating flights in June and July. 

As household pests, these ants are attracted to both greasy and sweet foods, such as crumbs, pet food, and sugary substances like honeydew— a secretion produced by aphids. 

What Do Pavement Ants Look Like?

These ants are small, typically 2.5 to 3 millimeters in length. They are dark brown to black ants with parallel ridges that look a lot like furrowed spines, visible on their head and thorax when viewed up close.

They can be distinguished by two nodes on their petiole (the segment connecting the thorax and abdomen) and are equipped with small stingers. Workers are often seen foraging in trails, while winged reproductive ants may appear during swarming seasons.

Signs of a Pavement Ant Infestation

Spotting pavement ants is often the first clue of an infestation. You may also notice small piles of displaced soil or sand near cracks in pavement or along the edges of sidewalks and foundations. Indoors, these ants can be found trailing along floors, walls, and countertops in search of food, particularly sugary or greasy substances. Additionally, the presence of winged ants inside your home could indicate that a colony is nesting nearby or even within the structure.

Habitat, Diet, Life Cycle & Behaviors

Where Do Pavement Ants Live?

Pavement ants are most often found under or near sidewalks, patios, and driveways. Located in the soil in the open or under stones and pavement, masonry or wood, nests generally occur at ground level.  Workers in pavement ant colonies use pipes or wires to move upward. In commercial buildings, pavement ants can become an issue. Sometimes, alates or reproductives emerge from openings in walls above false ceilings and then drop into the rooms below. 

Preferring to be outdoors in warm weather, during winter, pavement ants are more likely to be found in homes near a heat source such as a radiator or heating duct. They also settle in wall voids, under floors, or in insulation if they find access to food and shelter. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in both urban and suburban environments.

Diet

Pavement ants are opportunistic feeders, consuming a wide variety of foods. They are particularly drawn to sugary substances like syrup and honey, but they also eat proteins, grease, and even dead insects. This diverse diet makes homes and businesses with exposed food highly attractive to these ants, leading them to forage in kitchens, pantries, and trash areas.

Life Cycle

Pavement ants go through a four-stage life cycle, starting as eggs and progressing through the larva and pupa stages before becoming fully developed adult ants. The queen lays eggs, which hatch into larvae within a few days. Workers care for the larvae, feeding them until they pupate and eventually emerge as adult ants. 

Depending on environmental conditions, the process from egg to adult can take six to ten weeks. Colonies can contain thousands of ants, with queens living for several years and worker ants surviving for a few months.

Behaviors

Pavement ants are highly social and live in large colonies that often consist of thousands of workers. These ants are known for their organized foraging trails, which they use to search for food and bring it back to the colony.

During the warmer months, pavement ants may engage in swarming behavior, where winged males and females leave the nest to mate and establish new colonies. They are also notorious for territorial battles with neighboring ant colonies, especially during the spring.

Are Pavement Ants Dangerous?

While pavement ants are not directly dangerous to humans, they can still pose problems. These ants do not bite unless provoked, and their stings are mild and rarely cause severe reactions.
Pavement ants are nuisance pests and cause unsightly piles of sand on driveways, patios, sidewalks, or in basements. Although they can bite and they do have a stinger, pavement ants rarely bite humans. These ants do not pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food as they forage. They will scavenge for any kind of edible crumb and will invade buildings to find food resources for their substantial colonies. When nests aren’t treated in time, pavement ants will continue to spread into new populations. If a pavement ant infestation is suspected, it is recommended to contact a professional ant exterminator

How to Get Rid of Pavement Ants

It can be difficult to effectively eliminate pavement ants on your own without professional help. You can try using ant baits specifically designed for pavement ants and placing them along foraging trails. Worker ants will carry the poison back to the colony, helping to eliminate it at its source. 

The most effective way to ensure pavement ant control is with the help of a professional pest control team. 

Pavement Ant Prevention Tips

Preventing pavement ants from invading your home requires proactive measures:

  1. Maintain Cleanliness: Regularly clean kitchen surfaces, floors, and dining areas to eliminate food debris and residue.
  2. Seal Cracks and Crevices: Inspect and repair any structural vulnerabilities, such as gaps in doors, windows, and foundations.
  3. Manage Outdoor Areas: Keep your yard tidy by removing debris, trimming vegetation, and addressing standing water that could attract pests.
  4. Monitor Ant Activity: Regularly check for signs of ant activity around your home and act quickly at the first indication of a problem.
  5. Use Preventive Treatments: Apply non-toxic insect repellents or barriers around potential entry points to deter ants from entering your home.

With consistent efforts, you can minimize the likelihood of a pavement ant infestation.

Do You Have an Ant Infestation Problem? We Can Help

Don’t let ants take over your home or business. Dealing with pavement ants – and other ant species like acrobat ants, pharaoh ants, tawny crazy ants, and fire ants – can be challenging. 

At Active Pest, our expert pest control services specialize in identifying and eliminating pavement ant nests and infestations quickly and effectively.

FAQs

What attracts pavement ants?

Pavement ants are attracted to food sources, particularly sugary, greasy, or protein-rich items. They are also drawn to moisture and warm, sheltered areas like cracks in sidewalks, driveways, and foundations, which provide ideal nesting spots. Poor sanitation and accessible crumbs or spills can increase their presence indoors.

Are pavement ants harmful?

Pavement ants are not directly harmful to humans but can contaminate food and surfaces as they forage. They rarely bite or sting, and their stings are mild. While they don’t pose serious health risks, their presence can be a nuisance and compromise cleanliness.

Do pavement ants have wings?

Pavement ants develop wings during their reproductive phase. Winged males and females, known as swarmers, emerge from the colony to mate and establish new nests. Swarmers are typically seen in the spring and can indicate nearby ant activity.

Can pavement ants cause structural damage?

Pavement ants do not cause significant structural damage. However, they can displace soil while building nests, potentially undermining pavement or causing small cracks in masonry over time. Indoors, they are more of a nuisance than a structural threat.

Do pavement ants eat wood?

No, pavement ants do not eat wood. Unlike termites, they do not damage wooden structures. Their diet mainly consists of sugars, proteins, grease, and dead insects. However, they may nest near wood or inside wall voids, leading to confusion about their habits.

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