- Pavement ants are small; about 1/8th inch in length
- Pavement ants are dark brown to black in color
- Pavement ants have a body with two nodes (like a waist)
- Pavement ants have a 12-segemented antenna with a 3-segment club
Nesting Habits
The Pavement Ant gets its name from its tendency to nest under pavement sidewalks and driveways, and piling the dirt removed in a mound on top of the pavement. Pavement ants will also nest under other items on the ground, such as logs, stones, bricks, and boards.
Feeding Habits
Pavement ants will eat a variety of foods, though they prefer grease and sweet substances. Pavement ants will forage up to 30 feet from the colony and are quick to set up trails to and from food sources.
Reproduction
New ant colonies are started by a single queen that lays the eggs and tends the brood that develops into worker ants. Tending of the brood is then taken over by the workers, which shift the brood from place to place as moisture and temperature fluctuate in the nest. When workers forage for food for the queen and her young, they often enter houses and become a nuisance.
Basic Control Methods
Before treating for Pavement Ants, you should attempt to follow the trails of foraging ants to find out where they may be coming from, and where potential nesting sites may be located.
- For treatment of colonies located inside wall voids, inject a professional insecticide dust such as Drione Dust or Delta Dust. (Delta Dust is water-proof so it is best for treating ants that may live near plumbing lines or other moist areas.)
For more detailed information on Pavement Ant prevention and control, see How To Get Rid of Pavement Ants
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