Pavement ants may not be native to Langhorne, but this does not mean that they do not thrive here. The first members of the species to arrive in North America did so by accident in European cargo ships. After hundreds of years on this continent, the species is a common pest that infests homes and commercial buildings.
The good news about pavement ants is that they mainly are considered a nuisance species. That is, they are not known for causing noticeable structural damage, nor do they typically make people gravely ill. Pavement ants are so common, in fact, that some property owners do nothing when they see the signs of an infestation.
Others are more concerned when they see pavement ants invading places in which they should not be. Their concerns are well-founded. Pavement ants may be a nuisance species in most instances, but this is not always the case. Some people incorrectly identify a more destructive species, like carpenter ants, as pavement ants. This may mean that they are ignoring a dangerous problem. Even if the species truly is pavement ants, these pests can spread cases of food poisoning, and they are known to cause considerable damage to paved surfaces and foundations.
Of course, where one pest species is present, it is likely that others are nearby. Some of these species may bite people, spread illnesses and be responsible for structural damage. In short, any building that has a pavement ant problem is at risk for other, far more serious, pest issues.
When pavement ants invade, it is a signal to property owners to take action. Pest management professionals are trained to find pavement ant nests and discover the entrances that the insects are using to access the building. By eliminating the nests, applying specialized products and sealing up entrances so that they can no longer be used, it is possible for exterminators to end pavement ant infestations for good.
WHAT DO PAVEMENT ANTS LOOK LIKE?
Like other insects, pavement ants have six legs. Body lengths of between two and three millimeters are common for adults, and black and brown are the usual colors. Pavement ants are equipped with stingers, a characteristic that pest control professionals look for when making positive identification of the species. Also helping with identification is the pests’ complex, multi-segmented antennae and their nesting habitat.
WHERE DO PAVEMENT ANTS LIVE?
People in Langhorne only need to look down to find pavement ant colonies. This is because these pests most frequently create nests within the cracks and seams found in paved surfaces. Those ants that are always milling around a home’s driveway are probably pavement ants. When people go for walks around their neighborhood and see hundreds of ants congregating around a seam in the sidewalk, they are probably observing pavement ants in their natural habitat.
Pavement ants nest in patios, parking lots and stepping stones in gardens. Members of the species tunnel into cracks and seams, creating rooms and connecting corridors beneath the ground’s surface. The pavement up above affords excellent protection from the elements and predators. Tiny mounds of sandy soil are seen adjacent to the entrance to a nest.
Paved surfaces are not the only places in which these pests may live. A pile of firewood, bricks or rocks can look equally inviting as do mulch-covered ground or even open soil in a garden. The foundations of buildings similarly can be used as the beginnings of a nest. Colonies of pavement ants may nest within man-made structures in insulation, wall voids, basements, crawl spaces and soffits. Often, it is challenging to find and eradicate all of these nests, suggesting once again the need for professional assistance.
WHAT DO PAVEMENT ANTS EAT?
Honeydew is the main food source for most pavement ant colonies. This substance typically is obtained underground from a variety of insects that feed on the roots of plants. Protein is an additional nutritional requirement that these pests fulfill by eating other insects.
With their ability to consume sugar and protein in quantities that can be surprisingly large, pavement ants do well in kitchens, pantries, dining rooms and cafeterias. Any foods that contain sugar, like baked goods and honey, will be exploited as will foods that contain protein, such as meat and pet food. Unless all spills and crumbs are immediately cleaned away and food is stored in pest-proof containers, the pavement ants will continue to use these food sources.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY PAVEMENT ANTS
Members of this species are not necessarily the most destructive pests, but they can still wreak a bit of havoc. Paved surfaces that already have cracks or imperfections may be further spoiled by tunneling activity. The same is true of foundations. Pavement ants tunnel into the foundation so that they can reach other parts of the building. This means that the structure is more vulnerable to other pests and the elements.
Stepping stones and certain paved surfaces can be undermined by a large pavement ant nest. As they become a trip hazard, it may be necessary to remove or repair these landscaping features.
ARE PAVEMENT ANTS AGGRESSIVE?
Pavement ants fiercely protect their nests from other pests, including other colonies of pavement ants. For this purpose, they are equipped with stingers. These stingers can be used against people as well, but such attacks are rare. Moreover, the stingers are so small that they likely would not cause much of a wound.
Still, it is wise to bear in mind that a single pavement ant colony may have tens of thousands of members. This can make an infestation incredibly difficult to control, which is another argument in favor of hiring a licensed pest management professional.
DO PAVEMENT ANTS CARRY DISEASE?
Pavement ants may forage for food in unexpected places like sewers, drains and garbage cans. Along the way, they pick up various contaminants and toxins. These substances are spread throughout man-made structures when the pests come indoors. It is through these means that cases of food poisoning run rampant in infested buildings. It is only with control of the infestation that people can be protected from getting ill.
HOW TO DETECT PAVEMENT ANTS
Signs of a pavement ant infestation include:
• Large groups of ants clustering around crumbs or a liquid spill • Deceased ants found inside a building • Paved surfaces and foundations are plagued with ants • Mounds of soil are piled up on paved surfaces
HOW TO PREVENT PAVEMENT ANTS
To help prevent pavement ant issues the following steps should be taken:
• Ensure that garbage cans have tight lids • Routinely clean garbage cans • Get rid of piles of trash, debris, lumber and other clutter • Trim trees and plants so that they do not contact building exteriors • Block or seal openings in building exteriors • Repair cracks in paved surfaces • Use pest-proof food storage containers • Regularly wipe down surfaces on which food is prepared or eaten • Do not leave dirty dishes in sinks or on countertops
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.
