Pavement Ants

What are pavement ants?

Adult pavement ants can fluctuate in color from dark brown to black, the head and thorax have grooved parallel lines, and the thorax has a pair of small spines extending out from the rear end. The reproductive members of the colony are winged and are slightly bigger than the workers. Queens grow to be about 3/8th of an inch in length; workers are smaller, growing to about 1/8 of an inch in length.

Why do I have them?

Pavement ants usually spend their life living outside nesting in and along sidewalks, underneath foundations, under concrete slabs, and along stone walls. Pavement ants most often invade homes while foraging for food; they have a varied diet and will feast on sweets, fruits, seeds, cheese, grease, and dead insects. Pavement ants can become a particular problem in homes and buildings that have stone foundations or dirt basements.

Are they dangerous?

Pavement ants are not considered to be dangerous and are usually thought of as a nuisance pest. They do have a stinger, but are very passive and rarely sting people. Inside, they should be eliminated quickly to prevent them from creating nesting areas and contaminating food sources.

How do I get rid of pavement ants?

Eliminating pavement ants from a property can be very difficult as they often nest in the hard to reach areas of your home. To completely eliminate ants from your property, you need the knowledge and experience of a trained professional. The highly trained exterminators here at American Pest understand the habits and habitats of pavement ants and can eliminate them through our Preferred Care residential pest control services. These year-round pest control plans get rid of ants and other common household invaders with regular treatment visits. Give us a call to learn more about our Preferred Care plans!

Can I do it myself?

There are many DIY products on the market to “eliminate ants”, but the truth of the matter is that these products are mostly ineffective, they are often not used correctly, and they do nothing to solve the root of the ant infestation. By not solving the ‘why’ of an ant infestation, a re-infestation is very likely to occur. Also, many of the products at big box stores can be very harmful to people and pets if not used or mixed correctly. The best solution to a pavement ant infestation is to contact the ant control experts at American Pest. Our professionals can eliminate any sized ant infestation from Washington, D.C. area properties and keep them from returning.

How soon can you get here?

At American Pest, we pride ourselves on our speed and level of service. For that reason, we make every effort to make sure we can be there for you on the same or the very next day.

Is the treatment safe?

Every product used by American Pest has first been extensively tested by the EPA and is registered for pest control use. Only then do we apply it following a strict set of guidelines for use around humans and pets.

How can I prevent this in the future?

Pavement ants and ants, in general, are very difficult pests to prevent. They can enter inside through very small spaces that you may not know even exist. In addition to putting a year-round pest control plan from American Pest in place, there are some steps that you can take around your home and property to help prevent a pavement ant infestation.

• Make sure that outdoor trash cans are stored away from the outside of your home and that they have tight fitting or locking lids to keep out foraging ants.
• Place woodpiles off the ground and away from the outside of your home; trim back trees, bushes, and shrubs from the exterior of your home.
• Make sure to seal cracks and crevices in your foundation.
• Install door sweeps underneath all exterior doors and caulk any gaps around windows and doors, especially basement windows and doors.
• Routinely wash dirty dishes, quickly clean up spills and crumbs, and store food in the refrigerator or in air-tight containers.