Keep Away Pesky Pavement Ants
It’s a classic scene of summer: a fallen ice cream cone, melting on the sidewalk, surrounded by hordes of tiny, hungry ants. These are pavement ants, which get their name from their tendency to build nests in or under cracks in the pavement. They can be black, brown, or reddish in color, and are usually ⅛ of inch long. They have quite the appetite and eat almost anything, including seeds, fruit, sweets, bread, meat, nuts, dairy, grease, and other insects. There’s a good chance that folks in Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut will be seeing these ants outdoors very frequently during the summer. But what should you do if they decide to invade your home?
Do Pavement Ants Infest Houses?
Despite their name, pavement ants occasionally enter structures. They can infest ground-level walls, insulation, and underneath the flooring. Unlike their larger cousin carpenter ants, pavement ants won’t cause structural damage to your home, but they’re definitely a nuisance. Plus, they will readily infest your pantry food if it’s not properly stored in sealed containers.
What Should You Do If You See Pavement Ants in Your Home?
First, take a look outside and see if there are a lot of ants next to the foundation. If so, this is likely the source of the infestation. An exterior treatment, combined with bait and some spraying indoors, will usually do the trick when it comes to solving the problem.
You should consider doing some thorough cleaning before the treatment, including emptying and cleaning kitchen cabinets, and behind appliances, and wiping up any spills or crumbs. Also, be sure to repair or seal any small cracks or openings around the house. Maybe most importantly, don’t drop your ice cream!
We utilize IPM and work with you to craft some pest solutions for your home. Our team at Graduate Pest Solutions specializes in prevention. Call us at 413-566-8222 or contact us with any questions or if you are experiencing a pest problem. We have the knowledge and service necessary to help keep your home and workplace pest-free!
