Did you know that in the world there are over 12,000 ant species? In this series, we are discussing the seven most common ants and information to help you identify them and keep them from hurting you and your home.
Most common ant species
In this continuing series, we will describe each of these ants:
- Argentine Ants
- Carpenter Ants
- Crazy Ants
- Fire Ants
- Ghost Ants
- Odorous House Ants
- Pavement Ants
We are covering Pavement Ants in this article.
Pavement Ants
They are found throughout the eastern half of the U.S., California and Washington state. They congregate in the kitchen, dining areas, driveways, sidewalks, and under stones or concrete.
Pavement ants nest under rocks or pavement. These ants are very visible to homeowners as they mine the sand and soil from under concrete patios, slabs, sidewalks, driveways, or in basements. Some refer to this ant as a mason and because of its nesting behavior of moving the substrate. These ants do possess a stinger. A person is not stung easily unless the ant is caught in close circumstances such as resting an arm or leg over an infested area as in a lawn. These ants will also forage into structures on food items and will feed anything sweet or greasy.
Appearance
Pavement ants have these traits or appearance:
- Dark brown to blackish color
- Segmented Oval shape
- 1/16 – 1/8 inch long
Habits
These black ants will eat almost anything, including seeds, insects, honeydew, honey, meats, bread, nuts, and cheese. They travel in trails up to 30 feet. These ants are known to climb masonry walls that enter into occupied areas.
Habitat
Indoors, pavement ants are found in ground-level masonry walls, walls, insulation, and under floors. Outdoors, these ants nest under pavement cracks, stones, and next to buildings.
Threats
Pavement ants should be avoided because they can contaminate food. They do not pose a public health risk.
Ant Prevention Tips
Pests, such as pavement ants, are attracted to moisture. Here are some steps to prevent pavement ants from coming into your home or property:
- Eliminate standing water around the house.
- Keep plants, and tree branches cut back from the house
- Fill and close the cracks or little openings around your home.
- Move stored firewood and building materials away from your home because pavement ants like to build nests in stacks of wood.
- Indoors, clean up spills and crumbs on countertops and kitchen floors.
The reason ants enter a home is because they are looking for food or moisture. During cold weather months, they may even be looking for warmth.
Please let our team of professionals help you. Don’t spend your valuable time dealing with things that we can handle for you. If you’re in any of the surrounding areas, give Proactive Pest Control a call at 770-800-PEST or 770-800-7378.
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