Your Ultimate Guide to Eliminating Pavement Ants

Pavement ants are one of the most common pests in urban areas, often found nesting in the soil beneath concrete and asphalt. While they don’t pose health risks, they can invade homes and contaminate food, making effective control essential. Here’s your ultimate guide to eliminating pavement ants and preventing future infestations.

Identification and Habitat

Pavement ants are small, typically around an eighth of an inch long, and range in color from dark brown to black. They are usually brown with lighter legs and antennae, and their defining feature is the grooved parallel lines along their head and thorax.

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These ants are found worldwide, with significant populations in the West Coast, Midwest, and Eastern United States.

Common nesting sites include cracks in driveways, curbs, sidewalks, under landscaping rocks, and around bricks. Indoors, they can be found in wall voids and under floors where carpets meet baseboards.

Effective Control Methods

• Reclaim IT: Start by using Reclaim IT, a powerful liquid concentrate that repels and offers a quick knockdown with long residual effects. Use a pump-up sprayer to apply it along sidewalks, driveways, patios, and landscape beds where ant activity is evident.
• Ant-Trax Gel Bait: Next, apply Ant-Trax, a sweet gel bait in a syringe, to areas with common ant activity such as countertops, near appliances, and baseboards. Ensure all competing food sources are removed by storing food in airtight containers and clearing pet food.
• D-Fense Dust: Finally, use D-Fense dust, a waterproof insecticidal dust, for hard-to-reach areas like wall voids, under appliances, and entry points. Apply it with a duster to ensure thorough coverage.

Prevention Tips

To prevent pavement ants from returning, eliminate food and water sources by cleaning countertops, sweeping, vacuuming frequently, fixing leaky plumbing, and removing yard debris. Trim vegetation back from the house and seal any cracks and crevices. Consider professional paver sealing to reduce the number of potential nesting sites. Finally, create a barrier around your home by spraying Reclaim IT three feet up the structure and three feet out, and reapply every three months for continued protection.

By following these steps, you can effectively control and prevent pavement ant infestations, ensuring your home remains pest-free.

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