Pavement ants: What are they and how do you get rid of them?

There are more than 12,762 species of ants that exist around the world, according to Researchers Bert Holldobler. While each has a different name and unique characteristics, you won’t have any problem identifying the pavement ant. If you’re outside in your garden area, you will notice these ants burrowing under the sidewalk, beneath rocks, in the crevices of your driveway, and hanging out at your outdoor picnic.

While they can be problematic, most people don’t see them as near the nuisance of the carpenter or the fire ant. Their nesting habits are very characteristic as they use mounds of dirt to build their colonies. You’ve probably trampled through a few of them without even noticing, or you may have had fun as a child scattering these mounds to see the ants go running. There could even be some inside your home now that you don’t know anything about.

The pavement ant originated in Europe, but it’s speculated that these insects came across on ships back in the late 1700s. The soil-nesting species were transported back in the days when dirt was used to provide adequate weight to help balance the ships during voyages overseas. However, these insects decided they liked life in North America, and they now can be found all over the entire country.

Nevertheless, there’s still an abundance of these insects in Europe too. Anywhere there are warm summers, there will be ants and the probability for an infestation.

The Appearance of the Paver Ants

The pavement ant doesn’t have a unique appearance from other ants, but you can notate it by its brownish-black color and size. They range anywhere from one-eighth of an inch to one-sixteenth of an inch in length, so they’re pretty small compared to other species. 

While they may be small, they don’t let their size stop them. Scientists have discovered that ants can list anywhere from 10-50 times their body weight, which is why you see them always carrying something on their back. The legs and antennas of these ants are a bit more muted in color than their abdomen. Some other interesting physical characteristics are:

  • The head and thorax region has identifiable grooves.
  • Yes, these ants can sting, as there’s a stinger on their abdominal segment. However, they’re not likely to use them on humans. They’re pretty docile insects, but while they cannot bite, they will use that stinger if you threaten them.
  • The antenna on these ants has 12 sections.
  • The swarmers or reproductive pavement ants develop wings during mating season. Additionally, these ants are easy to locate as they’re twice as large as the workers.
  • The petiole, or area between the abdomen and thorax, has two identifiable lumps or nodes.
  • These ants have not one but two spines on their back, though you would need a magnifying glass to see it.
  • There are tiny stiff hairs are covering their abdomen.

Habitation

We’ve already established that this ant is called the paver as they like to burrow in the cracks of the sidewalk and pavement. However, another interesting fact is that they will build nests inside your home too. They fancy the walls and under the floorboards inside just as much as outside, especially when there’s an excellent food source so close.

The most common time of the year to see these insects inside your home is in the late spring and summer months. Oddly, with the shift in temperatures and global warming, it’s possible to see them even until the autumn months. These are the ants that you see carrying stuff as big if not bigger than their bodies.

Many marvel at their work ethic for being so small. Whether they’re building a nest and need soil and other debris to secure it, or they’re transferring food or their eggs from one nest to another, they’re always busy. Another interesting fact about these ants is that they don’t just have one queen per nest.

They have several queens, as well as worker bees, that tend to keep things going smoothly. There are few insects as busy as the ant or bee, and the quick way they put up colonies is just one way their ethic shows.

They establish many colonies based on one queen and her offspring. As soon as the queen mates and lays eggs, the worker ants studiously have the job of transferring them to a new colony. These eggs mustn’t encounter any moisture, as temperature changes can be deadly to the fragile eggs.

While pavement ants are abundant in New Jersey, the Mid-Atlantic region generally doesn’t have near the problem as other areas. The Midwest and West Coast also have significant numbers of these diligent workers. Climate has a lot to do with where they dwell, as they prefer moderate to warm temperatures rather than cold and ice. 

You won’t see significant numbers of these ants in the colder states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, though other ants frequent these areas.

Diet

When it comes to pest control, one of the ways that you can prevent ants from getting into the home is by reducing the attraction. While having one of these insects pass through on occasion is certainly normal, they will signal for others to build a nest if there’s a steady food supply. 

So, the first thing you need to do is clean up after a meal, keep garbage covered and taken out, and clean up any soda or juice spills thoroughly. Ants love sweet things, but they will eat tons of stuff, as they’re not picky eaters. 

Their goal is to find enough nourishment to take back to the colony and feed others, which is the technology that’s used to eradicate a nest. Some of the foods the paved ants enjoy the most includes:

  • Meat
  • Grease
  • Honeydew
  • Bread
  • Cheese
  • Aphids
  • Nectar
  • Ice Cream
  • Fruits
  • Seeds
  • Other insects
  • Jams/Jelly
  • Candy

While most people know that ants can be a problem, they don’t see them as the nuisance that the cockroach or termite is to the home. The problem comes about when they build nests and multiply quickly, which means they’re getting into your food supply. You might not notice the mounds of dirt like you would outside, as they use the floorboards to burrow inside.

Lifecyle of the Paver Ants

The paver ant goes through four stages during their lifecycle. They begin as an egg, then develop into the larva stage, followed by the pupa, and finally emerge as an adult. It takes a total of 42-60 days for development. They can go through these stages quicker when the temperatures outside are warmer, and it will be slower in the colder weather. 

Inside a colony, you will find three distinct ant roles, they’re the queen, her workers, and the kings. The worker are the ones that do everything, as the queen and king are only there to reproduce. Ironically, the worker takes care of the young ants and makes sure they’re fed. 

When they make their way inside your home, it’s probably the worker looking for nourishment for the nest.

Pest Control Options

If you see a few ants in your home, the first thing you’ll want to do is control the population. Many products on the market can help a small number, and ant baits and dust are the best options. You will often see the colonies around the house’s foundations, but don’t rule out a concentration located near any wood piles or rocks near the home either.

When you’re seeing them in large numbers on the inside, you should check the baseboards, under the kitchen and bathroom sink, as well as along the edges of the carpeting. Anywhere you see, a vigorous intensity of these insects, should be treated.

If you need more of a long-term control solution, you should choose a bait that’s slow acting. Before the winter season begins, the pavement ants will forage for food and water to store. The sugary liquid that’s used in bait houses allures them.

Once the ant takes a bite of the bait, it’s toxic to their little system. They will perish a short time later. However, the poison works slow enough so that the pavement ants have enough time to return to their colonies to share the bounty with others. The queen and worker ants will share in their nourishment, and ultimately, they all will perish.

Using ant dust is a good idea if you have cracks and crevices that need treatment. You can sprinkle it into the cracks as well as put it on the ant mounds you see outside. This dust has active ingredients that stay effective for three-fourths of the year. Since it can be used both indoors and out, it’s an excellent choice.

Many people wait until they’ve exhausted hundreds of dollars and lots of time to call in professional help. However, a significant size infestation warrants expert assistance. Pest control shouldn’t be the last option but the first choice.

More comparison articles:

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House Mice and Deer Mice: What’s the difference?
Termites and flying ants: What’s the difference?
Carpenter bees and bumble bees: What’s the difference?

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