Ants Control
PAVEMENT ANTS
This ant gets its name from commonly locating its nest in or under cracks in pavement. They’re about 1/16-1/8″ (2.5-4 mm) long; queens about 3/8″ (8 mm) long. Colonies are moderate to large, averaging 3-4,000 ants and several queens.
WHERE YOU FIND THEM
Inside a building, pavement ants will occasionally nest in walls, in insulation, and under floors. The most likely place is in the building foundation and especially near some heat source. They often follow pipes which come through slabs for access to upper floors of buildings.
Outside, these ants typically nest under stones, in cracks in pavement, and next to buildings. They enter buildings through cracks in the slab and walls, slab expansion joints, and the natural openings of buildings. Although not aggressive, workers can bite and sting.
These ants feed on almost anything including insects, honeydew, seeds, plant sap, and household foods such as meats, nuts, cheese, honey, and bread, but show a preference for meats and grease. They forage in trails, and for distances of up to 30 feet (9 m).
CONTROL
- Keep all areas free of food debris. Pay particular attention to floors and the area around tables, chairs, kitchen sinks and cookers.
- Used utensils should not be left overnight, but washed immediately after use.
- Tie garbage in refuse bags before disposing.
- Wipe away spilled sweet drinks and food straightaway.
- The professional approach would be:
- Locate the nest(s) and treat with a residual insecticide.
- Try to follow ants back from the food source.
- Dust in the voids of outside ground-floor walls, treatment of cracks in the slab with a residual insecticide, and barrier treatment gives the best control.
- The direct injection with an appropriately labeled high-pressure aerosol into the entrance/exit opening in the crack or expansion joint of a concrete floor is extremely effective.
- Baiting may be necessary.
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