Watch Your Step
- Mike Balas
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Pavement ants are everywhere in our area and, if you live in Virginia, you've most certainly stepped on them before. Learn more about how to kick these bugs to the curb.
You know you've seen them. Swarming a piece of discarded food. Making a line across the sidewalk. Or even worse, have you ever accidentally stopped near a nest and felt them crawling up your leg? Pavement ants are an unfortunate staple of warm weather, seemingly endless and everywhere.
What Do Pavement Ants Look Like?
If you were to think of a "typical" ant, this is what you're probably thinking of. Pavement ants are generally dark brown or black and are about an eighth of an inch long. They have six legs, segmented bodies and antennae.
While they get their name from often being found nesting in pavements, sidewalks and foundation cracks and crevices, they can actually be found almost anywhere- indoors or out. They nest in soil, under outdoor pots or other moist spaces, such as leaf piles or old wood. These ants are also very attracted to indoor locations, due to their hunt for food. They are sometimes referred to as sugar ants or grease ants, because of their attraction to sweet or greasy foods.
Are Pavement Ants Harmful?
Pavement ants can have thousands of workers in each colony, meaning that infestations can get out of control quickly. And, unfortunately, pavements ants can both bite and sting if they feel threatened. Yep, these little pests have stingers. The good news is that they don't usually cause significant pain and aren't dangerous, but they can cause discomfort and irritation. This is especially true if you are unfortunate enough to sit, kneel, or stand on or near a nest, sustaining multiple bites and/or stings at once.
Pavement ants can also cause the spread of bacteria and contamination of your food, should they find a way inside your home and food stores. In addition, their nests can further deteriorate the pavement, sidewalk, or foundation of your home.
And really, even if there wasn't any chance of harm, no one wants ants in their home.
How Do I Get Rid of Pavement Ants?
Indoors, pavement ants tend to be the worst in the spring and early summer, so early prevention is key.
Make sure that moisture is running away from the foundation. Remove leaves, wood, and debris from your yard. Keep gutters clean and spouts directed away from the house. Eliminate standing water (or change it out regularly) like bird baths and fountains. Sealing up cracks in your foundation and areas around your home, like sidewalks and driveways, will deter ants from building nests on your property.
Inside, make sure that you are cleaning up spills, sweeping and vacuuming floors often, and keeping food sealed up. Fix any leaks around pipes and check for moisture in basements and crawl spaces.
Ant baits can be an effective tool, particularly if the infestation is small and you are able to locate the nest for nearby placement of the bait. Even without knowing where the nest is, baits can help if placed where you've seen ants inside.
Professional pest services, particularly early season preventative treatments, are key to stopping the problem before it starts. Ants emerge early in the spring and become a nuisance very quickly. It's good to have a barrier in place before they begin to hunt for a way inside your house or build a nest in your yard.
Virginia Pest Pro can help you keep ants, and all those other bugs you're starting to see this time of year, out of your home and yard. Call us today, we're excited to help you make the most of your summer by keeping it pest-free!
To learn even more about common pests we have in Central Virginia, check out our pest library