S & W Pest Management Inc : Insect Guide

Pest Guide » Ants » Pavement Ants:

Pavement Ants
Tetramorium caespitum
Color: Dark brown to blackish
Legs: Six
Shape: Segmented; oval
Size: 1/8"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: No

This ant is called a Pavement ant because it likes to nest in soil next to and beneath slabs, sidewalks, patios, and driveways. Colonies are usually easy to find because is tell-tale piles of displaced soil. .These pests can also be found inside of homes and other structures, in wall voids, beneath toilets and water heaters. They also will readily nest in and beneath insulation in walls and attics. Occasionally, a colony may carry soil up into a wall to form a nest. Piles of soil can appear from under baseboards or on top of a basement or garage floor slabs.

These ants will eat almost anything, including insects, seeds, honeydew produced by aphids and mealyworms, bread, meats, nuts and cheese. These ants do not pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food and should be avoided.

The best way to control these tiny invaders is to prevent an infestation in the first place.

Prevention Outdoors:

Remove piles of lumber or other yard debris that could serve as a nesting site for ants.
Keep mulch less than 2" thick and at least 12" away from foundations.
Eliminate sources of moisture such as leaky faucets, plumbing, and free-standing water. Also, make sure that your sprinkler system does not spray directly onto the foundation of your home or business.
Consider re-landscape. Avoid using plants that are prone to aphids.Do not use items such as stones and landscape timbers next to the foundation, ants underneath are more likely to infest a home.
Keep branches trimmed to prevent them from touching your building.

Prevention Indoors:

Clean windows of dead insects, Pavement ants will feed on them.
If ants are trailing to food, remove the food source and wipe ant trails with a mild detergent to erase the trail pheromone. The trail pheromone is a specialized chemical that foraging ants emit to guide other foraging ants to food or to a new nesting place.

If you would like to make an appointment with S & W Pest Management, please fill out the online appointment form or call 1-877-989-BUGS.