Pavement ants are tiny, typically about 1/8 inch long, with dark brown to black bodies. They have a segmented appearance with fine grooves on their head and thorax, giving them a slightly textured look. Their antennae comprise 12 segments, ending in a three-segmented club. While they may seem tiny, their numbers can quickly grow, leading to noticeable trails around sidewalks, patios, and even inside homes.
Pavement ants are not picky eaters—they’ll go after just about anything. Their diet includes sweets, grease, proteins, and even other insects. Outdoors, they forage for honeydew from aphids, seeds, and small dead insects. Inside homes, they’re often drawn to sugary spills, greasy crumbs, pet food, and pantry staples. Their ability to scavenge a wide variety of foods makes them persistent household pests.
No, pavement ants do not pose health risks, but they can contaminate food and be a persistent nuisance. If left unchecked, they may also attract other pests.
Pavement ants do not cause structural damage, but their unsightly nests can be a nuisance and even adversely affect your lawn.
In Tampa Bay, pavement ants are active year-round due to our warm climate. However, you’re more likely to notice them during the spring and summer months. They’re more likely to enter homes and other structures during the cooler months, especially if food is more challenging to find outside.
Food, moisture, and shelter attract pavement ants. Food sources in the yard, leaking spigots, damp areas, cracks in the foundation, and other openings that allow for easy entry make properties vulnerable to these ants (and other pests).
Pavement ants typically nest in the soil under sidewalks, driveways, patios, and building foundations. They create small mounds of displaced soil near pavement cracks or along the edges of structures. While they prefer to stay outdoors, these ants can also make their way inside, nesting in walls, under floors, and even beneath appliances if they find a reliable food source.
When it rains, pavement ants may seek shelter in drier areas to avoid getting washed out of their nests. If their outdoor nests are flooded, they might move indoors, looking for cracks or crevices in your foundation or walls. Rain can also cause them to forage more actively for food, increasing sightings as they search for shelter and nourishment.
Pavement ants enter homes looking for food, especially sweets and greasy substances. They sneak in through foundation cracks, gaps around doors, and utility lines.
You can try to get rid of pavement ants on your own, but it’s often a challenge. Store-bought ant sprays may kill the ants you see but won’t eliminate the entire colony. Since pavement ants nest in hard-to-reach places like under driveways, patios, and sidewalks, DIY treatments rarely reach the source of the infestation. To eliminate pavement ant infestations, contact a professional exterminator.
If you’re seeing pavement ants, contact Anti-Pesto Bug Killers for assistance. Our locally owned and family-operated pest control company offers effective home pest control services in St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Largo, and throughout the Tampa Bay area that address existing infestations and prevent new pest activity from developing.
Make your property less appealing to pavement ants with these prevention tips:
If it’s too late and you need help getting rid of pavement ants, give Anti-Pesto a shout. Same-day service is available if you call before noon!
From the first contact call the staff was very professional, courteous and informative. We discussed the issues and set a plan with an appointment within a couple days. Shane, our technician, was very prompt and courteous. Very informative during the inspection process and strategically put a deterrent plan in place. I would highly recommend Anti-Pesto Bug Killers.
Jim J.
Largo, FL
We had a wasp infestation in our backyard shed. Anti-Pesto responded immediately and were out to our place within about two hours and took care of everything thoroughly. They will even follow-up again within two weeks to be sure that the problem does not recur. They are awesome!
Daniel Z.
Largo, FL
Amazing quality work. I’ve had a few pest control companies spray and ants would still enter our home and act as roommates. Sam Hurtado is our technician and he answers everything with knowledge and always brings quality work. Even if there was recent pest work they always arrange if I have issues. Thank you!!
Trish N.
Tampa, FL
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