About Pavement Ants

Pavement ants live in moderately large colonies. They are found on the Atlantic coast, the west coast, and in Midwestern and southern US. The outdoor nests of pavement ants are found in areas such as underneath stones and cracks of buildings. They are also found in walls and insulations as well as under floors. Homes with slab-on-grade construction are most susceptible to pavement ant infestations because the ants can enter through cracks or any kind of opening. Expansion joints in the slab are great entry points for pavement ants.

Around homes, pavement ants nest beside and underneath patios, driveways, and sidewalks. When they nest underneath driveways and sidewalks, they cause dirt to pile on the pavement as mounds. If there are suitable entry points, the ants will enter homes in search of food and shelter.

Although they are not very aggressive, during spring, pavement ants particularly show aggressiveness towards other insects, especially ants. Leftover pet food kept indoors or outdoors particularly attracts pavement ants to homes.

Pavement ants have a diverse diet and feed on different types of food, including greasy foods that humans consume. They also eat live and dead animals as well as honeydew from insects such as aphids and mealybugs. Seeds and meat are also part of the diet of pavement ants. If they find homes to be suitable sources of food and readily accessible, they will set up trails. They may also nest in homes when the outdoor conditions become harsh.

Colonies of pavement ants have several queens and numerous workers. The swarmer’s are winged reproductive males and females who leave around July to start new colonies. The female lays eggs which hatch into workers and reproducers. Until the young ants mature, they are catered to by workers. They may also be taken to a different location because of the fluctuation of moisture level and temperature.