Five Things You Did Not Know About Pavement Ants

April 25, 2018

When we think of ants, usually the big bad carpenter ant comes to mind most often because they can be very harmful and that tends to get them the most attention. However, there are many other species of ants that you should know about. One of them is the pavement ant

Pavement ants are usually found in the eastern part of the United States, as well as California and Washington. They are shaped like segmented ovals that are dark brown to black in color and they are about ⅛” in length. Did you know that pavement ants:

1. Build colonies that range from 3,000 to 4,000 members, and host several queens.
2. Nest outdoors in the soil in, around, and beneath driveways, patios, sidewalks, and slabs.
3. Nest indoors inside walls and beneath the foundation of your home.
4. Eat a variety of insects, grease, seeds, sweets, carbohydrates, meats, and dairy.
5. Can contaminate food sources with their feces.

In order to prevent these annoying pavement ants, you will need to get rid of all sources of standing water, keep trees trimmed back and away from your home, eliminate outdoor piles of junk or wood, and seal off all cracks and crevices that allow these little ants entry into your home. Once they have penetrated your home, they will be extremely hard to get rid of on your own.

DIY tricks almost always fall short of eliminating entire colonies of ants and the real problem of how they are invading your property and home. Year-round residential pest control is the real answer to ant elimination and prevention.  

Here at A-1 Pest Control, our home pest control services are designed for the needs of homeowners in North Carolina and include coverage for ants PLUS other common house infesting pests.  Learn more about our Home Shield Plans and how we can protect your family and house from nuisance and destructive pests.