Pavement Ants

• Very small (1/8th inch)
• Primarily a pest of slab construction
• Exterior perimeter treatments recommended

Pavement ants are small ants about 1/8th inch long and dark brown to black in color. They are found throughout the eastern half of the U.S.  The name for this ant comes from its habit of nesting under sidewalks and driveways and piling dirt removed from the nest in a mound on top of the pavement.

In addition to nesting under sidewalks, pavement ant colonies can be found under other items lying on top of the ground, including stones, logs, boards, bricks, patio blocks and concrete slabs.  They may nest in open soil close to building foundations or under mulch in landscaped beds.  They will routinely forage within structures and can be a significant pest of living and working environments on slabs.  They are generally not found above the first floor.

Pavement ants will feed on a wide variety of different foods, though greasy and sweet materials are preferred. Worker ants may forage for food up to 30 feet from the colony and readily set up trails to and from food sources.
Control of pavement ants should begin with an attempt to locate the nest site.  Ants entering buildings from outdoors can be discouraged by treating and sealing entry cracks and gaps in exterior walls.  Baits and other slow acting, non-repellant insecticides are best for controlling pavement ant colonies.  Perimeter treatments are very effective at preventing interior foraging by outdoor colonies