When Yardley area homes and businesses spot ants marching across the floor, there is a reasonable possibility that these pests are pavement ants. This species is among one of the most common, and an infestation of these insects causes thousands of people to ask for pest control treatments each year.
Pavement ants are small, which makes it seem as though they are not much of a threat. While it is true that this pest species is not as destructive as others, this does not mean that they do not cause significant problems.
Pavement ants contaminate food that is intended for consumption by people or pets. They also transmit a range of bacteria and toxins onto floors, food preparation surfaces and the utensils that are used to prepare and serve food.
Accordingly, cases of food poisoning are common in homes where pavement ant infestations are underway. Trying to rid themselves of the problem, the homeowner may vacuum up a line of ants or even put out a trap or two.
The downfall of these approaches is that they only focus on one symptom. What is really needed is for all access points to be blocked, for the kitchen to be thoroughly cleaned and for the ants' nest to be destroyed.
It is only with the assistance of a pest management professional that it is possible to fully address and end the infestation.
WHAT DO PAVEMENT ANTS LOOK LIKE?
Pavement ants generally measure between one-eighth and one-sixteenth of an inch when fully grown. Most pavement ants feature a blend of brown and black coloring. The legs and antennae typically are brown, but the abdomen is black. Experts often identify this species based on characteristics such as the grooves on the head and thorax, the pair of spines on the back and the nodes on the petiole. Winged members of the colony, frequently called swarmers, emerge in the early summer to reproduce and establish new colonies.
WHERE DO PAVEMENT ANTS LIVE?
Frequently, pavement ant nests are found in the vicinity of patios, sidewalks and driveways. Cracks in these structures provide an inviting opening in which the pavement ants will tunnel. The soil beneath logs, bricks or stones also may be used as a nesting location as will stepping stones and pavers.
People may first become aware of a pavement ant nest because of the small piles of sandy soil that accumulate around patios and sidewalks. These piles are created by the ants' excavation activities.
Pavement ants are extremely likely to place a nest adjacent to a human habitation, and they may even nest within the building. When they do this, the nest frequently is found beneath a floor or within wall voids or insulation.
This ability to nest in a wide variety of locations can make tracing the nest's location difficult. Accordingly, it is always a good idea to rely on the expertise and skill of an exterminator to eradicate such a nest.
WHAT DO PAVEMENT ANTS EAT?
Pavement ants are capable of surviving on almost any edible substance. However, they show distinct preferences for sugars and protein. This is demonstrated by their reliance on honeydew, which is secreted by aphids, as a source of sugar and living and dead insects. Seeds also are a staple food when they are available. Many foods that are commonly found in kitchens appeal to pavement ants. Anything that is sweet, greasy or contains protein will be exploited. This may include baked goods, meat, honey, jam, fruit, vegetables and many other items. Similarly, pet foods will be targeted because of its protein content.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY PAVEMENT ANTS
Pavement ants are not known to cause extensive structural damage. Unlike carpenter ants, they do not tunnel into wooden structures. Nonetheless, a large colony of pavement ants that is nesting beneath a patio or stepping stones may undermine these structures. The patio or stepping stones may settle, sag or become uneven, possibly causing a trip hazard.
ARE PAVEMENT ANTS AGGRESSIVE?
Attacks by pavement ants on people are rare. Nonetheless, members of this species are equipped with stingers, and they will attack if they feel cornered or threatened. This means that it is smart to leave getting rid of these ants to professionals.
Unfortunately, this is not as easy as it may appear. Many ant species, including pavement ants, lay down powerful trails of pheromones for colony members to follow. These trails lead the ants to food sources. It is essential that these pheromone trails be eliminated. Moreover, the ants will continue to enter the house as long as the access points remain. This means that getting rid of an infestation must include blocking all access points and eliminating pheromone trails.
DO PAVEMENT ANTS CARRY DISEASE?
While they do not transmit diseases to people with a bite or a sting, pavement ants remain a threat to human health.
Pavement ants may forage far and wide to locate food sources. Foraging leads them into garbage cans, sewers, drains, animal carcasses and numerous other unhygienic places.
As they travel, they pick up innumerable contaminants, including dangerous bacteria and toxins. Human habitations are then contaminated with these items as the ants march across food preparation surfaces, plates and utensils. The ants also will infest food that is intended to be eaten by people, leaving behind generous amounts of contaminants.
These contaminants, which may include salmonella, may be responsible for outbreaks of food poisoning. While some of these cases are mild, others can be serious. People with vulnerable immune systems may become severely ill, and the consequences can be fatal.
Symptoms such as abdominal cramps, fever, diarrhea, headache, chills and nausea are all common in food poisoning cases.
HOW TO DETECT PAVEMENT ANTS
Signs of a pavement ant problem include:
• Flying, swarming ants appearing early in the summer • Lines of ants walking across any surface in the house • Small piles that look like sand or soil around pavement
HOW TO PREVENT PAVEMENT ANTS
To help prevent a pavement ant issue the following steps should be taken:
• Store food in lidded containers made of metal or glass • Immediately put dirty dishes into the dishwasher • Do not keep food on tables or counters • Regularly clean garbage cans • Clean up spills and crumbs as soon as they occur • Keep firewood and yard debris piles well away from structures • Look for and eliminate any holes or cracks in the home's exterior • Do not allow trees or plants to contact building exteriors • Get rid of standing water on the property
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.
