Pavement Ant Overview & Quick Facts
Keep ants out of your home or business with
effective identification and control strategies.
A Closer Look at Pavement Ants
Pavement ants are among the most common ants found around homes and buildings. True to their name, they build nests in and around pavement cracks, sidewalks, driveways, and foundations. While they aren’t harmful to humans, their presence indoors can become a nuisance—especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
🐜 What Do Pavement Ants Look Like?
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Color: Dark brown to black
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Size: About 1/8 inch long
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Features:
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Two-segmented waist (a key ID trait)
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Parallel grooves on their head and thorax
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Often seen traveling in trails
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Winged swarmers (reproductive ants) may appear during the spring or early summer.
🏠 Where Do Pavement Ants Nest?
They build nests in:
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Cracks in sidewalks and driveways
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Under concrete slabs and foundations
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Along patios, curbs, or bricks
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Indoors: under floors, behind baseboards, or inside wall voids
They’re drawn to warm indoor spaces—especially during cooler months.
🍞 What Do Pavement Ants Eat?
These ants are omnivorous scavengers. Their diet includes:
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Sugary substances (honeydew, sweets, syrups)
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Proteins (meats, pet food, grease)
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Bread crumbs and other carbohydrates
They often forage in long trails and can infest kitchens and pantries.
⚠️ Are Pavement Ants Dangerous?
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❌ They don’t bite or sting humans in a harmful way
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✅ They can contaminate food if they get into stored goods
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✅ Their presence often signals cracks or gaps in foundations that allow entry
They’re more of a nuisance pest than a threat—but a persistent one.
🧠 Fun Fact!
When two pavement ant colonies meet, they engage in “ant wars”—massive battles involving hundreds of ants fighting over territory. These turf wars can be seen right on sidewalks during warm weather!
Frequently Asked Questions
About Pavement Ants
What are Pavement Ants?
Pavement ants (Tetramorium immigrans) are small, dark ants commonly found nesting in cracks of sidewalks, driveways, patios, and building foundations. They’re among the most common household nuisance ants in the U.S.
What do Pavement Ants look like?
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Color: Dark brown to black
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Size: About 1/8 inch long
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Features:
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Grooved head and thorax
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Two-segmented waist (pedicel)
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Often seen in long, organized foraging trails
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Where do Pavement Ants nest?
They typically nest:
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In cracks of pavement and sidewalks
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Beneath concrete slabs and foundation walls
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Along baseboards or walls inside buildings
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Under stones, bricks, or landscaping materials
Do Pavement Ants come indoors?
Yes. They often move indoors:
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In search of food and water
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During cooler weather or after rain
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Through foundation cracks or door gaps
They’re often seen in kitchens, bathrooms, or basements.
What do Pavement Ants eat?
Pavement ants are omnivores. They eat:
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Sweets like sugar, syrup, and honeydew
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Greasy or protein-based foods like meat, cheese, and pet food
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Crumbs, bread, and other carbohydrates
Are Pavement Ants dangerous?
No, but they can be a persistent nuisance:
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They don’t sting (or rarely do, very mildly)
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They don’t damage wood or structures
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But they can contaminate food and invade homes repeatedly
How do Pavement Ants get into my home?
They enter through:
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Cracks in concrete or bricks
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Gaps under doors and windows
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Utility lines or pipes
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Foundation and slab crevices
How can I get rid of Pavement Ants?
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Seal cracks and entry points around the home
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Clean up spills and crumbs promptly
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Use ant baits (not sprays) so they carry poison back to the colony
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Trim back landscaping that touches the house
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Hire a professional pest control service for larger or recurring infestations
Struggling with ants in your home or yard? Whether it's fire ants, carpenter ants, ghost ants, or any other species, Hannan Environmental Services offers expert ant control and prevention throughout South Florida. Our trained technicians provide safe, effective, and long-lasting solutions to keep your home pest-free. Contact us today for reliable service you can trust! Feel free to also reach out to Hannan Environmental Services on Facebook!