As the seasons change from spring to summer, pavement ant colonies seem to rise up out of nowhere. They are most likely to be seen working around seams and cracks in driveways, patios and sidewalks, but they may make their way indoors in search of food or new nesting habitat.
While pavement ants rarely are more than nuisances, they can still disrupt a household with their determination to eat food that is supposed to be for people or pets. Additionally, because the ants spread bacteria and germs as they forage, they may cause numerous cases of food poisoning. This means that it is important to act fast to stop the infestation.
Exterminators are exceptionally good at taking care of pavement ant problems because of their experience and the powerful treatment methods that they use. When homeowners are tired of finding pavement ants in their kitchens, then it is time to bring in a pest management professional.
WHAT DO
ODOROUS
ANTS LOOK LIKE?
The pavement ant colony members that are most likely to be spotted in kitchens and pantries are the workers. At about one-sixteenth or one-eighth of an inch, the workers are tiny, but they make up for their small size in their numbers. Most of these ants are either brown or black, though their legs and antennae usually are slightly lighter colored than their bodies. On the unevenly shaped thorax is a pair of spines, and two nodes are located on the petiole that connects the abdomen and thorax.
WHAT DO
ODOROUS
ANTS EAT?
When foraging for food in the wild, pavement ants typically eat plant sap, other insects, honeydew and seeds. Their attraction to protein and sugar makes many human foods appropriate for them. They will consume anything that is greasy or fatty as well as foods such as bread, cheese, honey, baked goods, meat, nuts and pet food.
WHERE DO
ODOROUS
ANTS LIVE?
While some ant species prefer to nest indoors, this usually is not the case with pavement ants. As their name suggests, they prefer to dig into seams and cracks in sidewalks, cement slabs, stones, bricks and patio blocks to create nests. Nevertheless, if a crack is found in a foundation, behind a wall or beneath the surface of a floor, then the pavement ants may nest here as well. People may be able to identify a pavement ant infestation by the tiny mounds of sandy soil that accumulate on the ground's surface around the nest.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY
ODOROUS
ANTS
A large colony of pavement ants is capable of creating an unsightly mess on patios, walkways and driveways. Any existing cracks may be exacerbated by pavement ant activity, and it is possible that smaller paved surfaces, like stepping stones, may become unstable. It is not unusual to see several pavement ant colonies working and nesting around the same paved structure, which may mean that the damage can quickly become extensive.
ARE
ODOROUS
ANTS AGGRESSIVE?
Territorial pavement ants are more likely to show aggression to members of other pavement ant colonies than they are toward people. Still, a thriving colony easily can contain thousands of members. When the workers begin excavating or come inside to search for food, pavement ants can seem relentless because of their overwhelming numbers.
DO
ODOROUS
ANTS CARRY DISEASE?
Pavement ants may be tiny, but they are capable of biting people. However, such an attack is a rare event, and it is extremely unlikely that a bite victim will end up with an illness.
Still, pavement ants can be considered a threat to health because they may cause severe food poisoning cases. With their preference for a wide variety of foods, worker pavement ants forage in sewers, drains, garbage cans, dumpsters and other places where they may find insects or other foods on which to feed. They bring any toxins that they pick up on their foraging into kitchens where these contaminants are redistributed into food that people eat.
Moreover, pavement ants spread filth on food preparation equipment and surfaces. All of these items must be disinfected before being used to avoid the nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms that are associated with food poisoning.
HOW TO DETECT
ODOROUS
ANTS
Signs of a pavement ant infestation include:
-Tiny mounds of sandy soil on or around pavement -Flying ant swarms in the spring -Ants discovered anywhere in the kitchen, pantry or other food storage places
HOW TO PREVENT
ODOROUS
ANTS
To help protect against pavement ant issues the following steps should be taken:
-Prevent foliage from touching the exterior of structures -Replace or repair any torn window or door screens -Check windows and doors for gaps -Inspect water heaters and utility connections for gaps that must be sealed -Repair cracks in patios, driveways and foundations -Use garbage cans with tight-fitting lids -Routinely wash garbage cans -Use water to rinse any recyclable packaging that contained food -Put pet food out only at mealtimes -Store human and pet food in metal or glass containers -Keep kitchen surfaces clean -Do not allow clutter to collect in kitchens, pantries and dining rooms because this may conceal crumbs
HOW WE TREAT FOR
ANTS
Ants are the number one pest control issue and can prove virtually impossible for home and business owners to solve on their own. Ending an ant infestation typically requires proper ant identification, locating and destroying the nest or colony, as well as the use and application of specialized products.
As such, it is not advisable for property owners to attempt to eradicate an ant infestation without assistance from a professional pest control provider.
