They may sound like an outdoor problem, but pavement ants can also be a nuisance indoors. Here’s what to do.
Pavement ants are household-infesting ants that were likely carried over from Europe on 18th-century merchant ships. Since then, these pests have spread across the country, building huge colonies with between 3,000 and 10,000 ants each.
Pavement ants are a common nuisance pest that can invade homes and damage property, Their habit of nesting in sidewalk and driveway cracks often brings them into conflict with homeowners
While pesticide sprays provide quick control, many homeowners prefer non-toxic, natural options. The good news is there are several highly effective home remedies for getting rid of pavement ants without chemicals.
What Are Pavement Ants?
Pavement ants belong to the species Tetramorium caespitum and are native to Europe. They likely arrived in the Americas on merchant ships in the 1700s.
These small ants measure only 1/8 inch long and are brownish-black in color. They form massive colonies containing thousands of ants.
Pavement ants nest outdoors in pavement cracks, soil, stones, logs, and other voids. Foraging workers follow scent trails along edges and structures in search of food.
Indoors, they prefer to nest in wall voids and spaces under floors where warmth and moisture accumulate. Pavement ants will feed on sugary foods, grease, dead insects, and other protein sources.
Why Get Rid of Pavement Ants?
Pavement ants themselves pose little danger, but an infestation can cause significant property damage over time. Tunneling in soil next to foundations, sidewalks, and driveways can undermine structural integrity.
Indoors, pavement ants can damage insulation, wood, and wiring with their nest excavations. They also contaminate food and surfaces with bacteria. Controlling infestations is important to prevent damage and health risks.
10 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Pavement Ants
Luckily, pavement ants have some key weaknesses that make non-toxic control highly effective. Here are 10 natural remedies to eliminate pavement ants from your home and yard:
1. Disrupt Scent Trails
Pavement ants rely heavily on pheromone scent trails to navigate back to the nest and food sources. Strong scents like vinegar, citrus oil, peppermint oil, and cinnamon oil will mask ant trails and cause confusion.
Wipe down ant trails with a 50/50 vinegar-water solution or diluted essential oils. This forces the ants to abandon established paths while they search for new routes.
2. Use Ant Repelling Plants
Certain plants naturally deter ants with their strong scents, sap, or textures. Planting these around the perimeter of your home creates a “barrier” that repels pavement ants.
Some top ant-repelling plants include pine, mint, tansy, pennyroyal, garlic, and cucumber. Keep them trimmed since ants can use overgrown plants to bridge past the barriers.
3. Apply Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder made from crushed fossilized algae that cuts into an insect’s exoskeleton, causing dehydration. Apply food-grade DE along ant trails and nest entry points.
Since DE is non-toxic, you can also apply a fine layer in cabinets, pantries, and anywhere else ants enter. Wear a dust mask when applying to avoid inhaling the dust.
4. Use Borax Ant Baits
Borax contains boric acid, a slow-acting stomach poison for insects. Mix borax with sugar water or maple syrup to create homemade liquid baits. You can also mix borax with peanut butter or combine it with sugar to make solid paste baits.
Place small amounts of bait near ant trails and nests. Foraging ants will consume the bait and share it with the rest of the colony, eventually destroying it. This method takes time but is highly effective.
5. Attack Nests With Boiling Water
Pouring boiling water directly into visible pavement ant nests is a fast way to eliminate a good portion of the colony. The water kills ants on contact and makes the nest uninhabitable.
Target nests located in driveway or sidewalk cracks, soil next to foundations, under stones, and other accessible areas. Just be careful not to damage plants or plastic pipes with the boiling water.
6. Use Coffee Grounds As a Barrier
Coffee grounds deter ants in two ways: their strong smell confuses the scent trails, while the rough texture is difficult for ants to crawl over.
Sprinkle used coffee grounds around ant nests or along the foundation where ants are entering your home. The grounds won’t kill the ants but should help block their activity.
7. Wipe Out Trails With Soap Water
Mix a few drops of liquid dish or castile soap into a spray bottle filled with water. Spray down any ant trails you see, especially along walls, tile, baseboards, and other “highways” into your home.
The soap breaks the surface tension of the water, causing it to spread out and become slippery. This disrupts ant scent trails while making it harder for them to walk over treated areas.
8. Use Lemon Juice & Rinds
Lemons contain citric acid, which is toxic to ants. You can make a simple lemon juice spray or sprinkle cut lemon rinds around ant entry points. The strong citrus scent also helps mask ant trails.
If spraying, allow the lemon juice to fully dry for maximum effect. The acidic residue left on surfaces continues working after the moisture evaporates.
9. Apply Cucumber Peels
Like citrus fruit, cucumbers contain compounds that deter ants. Place a few cucumber peels near heavy ant traffic areas or suspected nest sites.
You can also rub cucumber slices directly onto ant trails to disrupt their pheromones. This is an easy way to block ants without having to spray anything.
10. Seal Up Entry Points
One of the most important steps in pavement ant control is locating and sealing up their entryways into your home. Focus on cracks in the foundation, gaps around pipes and wires, warped door frames, and any other openings leading indoors.
Sealing entry points prevents new ants from getting inside while you deal with the existing infestation. This “exterior barrier” is crucial to completely eliminate access.
When to Call a Professional Exterminator
Natural remedies offer a safe first line of defense for controlling pavement ants. However, if you have a severe, recurring infestation, it may be time to call a professional pest control company.
Exterminators have commercial-grade baits and insecticides that can fully eliminate large colonies. They also have the expertise to pinpoint nest locations and hidden entryways for a more complete treatment.
Natural ant deterrents can be highly effective for mild infestations. But if ants keep returning despite your best efforts, don’t hesitate to call a pest control pro for backup. Tackling a severe pavement ant problem often requires a coordinated approach using multiple control methods for the best results.
Where You’ll Find Pavement Ants
Naturally, pavement ants love to congregate in and around outdoor paved areas like sidewalks, driveways, and concrete. But they can also get into your home through cracks and crevices in concrete, such as those in foundations, concrete slabs, and door jams.
Pavement ants are attracted to warmth and love moisture. If you have these ants, youll likely find them in these areas of your home.
- High-humidity areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms.
- Near heat sources, like walls and insulation next to hot water lines
- On the floor around exterior doors.
- Anywhere there are food spills, like in the kitchen, on the trash can, or in the pantry
Pavement ants are mostly interested in food sources inside, especially ones that are high in protein and/or sugar, like nuts, cheese, honey, jam, cookies, bread, and crackers. They will also consume grease, pollen, plant juices, pet food, garbage, and even other insects.
What Pavement Ants Look Like
Ants may look like any other ant, but pavement ants are different because of how they look. Theyre typically brown, though their bodies can vary in color from reddish-brown to dark brown to black. Theyre also tiny—only about ⅛ of an inch long (about ⅛ the length of a standard paperclip).
If you had a magnifying glass, you would see these telltale signs of a pavement ant:
- chest (the part between the head and the abdomen) has two nodes.
- Cross-hatched lines or furrows that go across the head and thorax
- Two-segment pedicel (the part connecting the thorax and the abdomen).
- Stinger on its last segment. (Luckily, the stinger isnt strong enough to harm humans).
- The job of swarmer ants is to make more ants. They are twice as big as worker ants and have wings.
How to Get Rid of Pavement Ants (3 Simple Steps)
FAQ
Will vinegar kill pavement ants?
What is the best ant killer for pavers?
What kills ants in driveway cracks?
How do I get rid of pavement ants?
One good thing about the broad diet of pavement ants is that it gives you many options in the choice of trap you can use. Protein- or sugar-based bait stations pre-filled with pesticides are the most convenient. It’s best to use two types of bait at once – one that is sugar-based and one that contains protein.
What should one do if a fire ant bites them?
Fire ant bites can cause local inflammation over the skin which can be painful. It can be conservatively managed by applying ice packs after washing the skin with soap and water. Oral medications can be taken to help reduce inflammation faster and prevent risk of allergic reaction.
How to get rid of ants naturally?
One of the commonly used natural methods to get rid of ants is by pouring hot water in the shelters of pavement ants. This method is very effective to eliminate the ant infestations but probably only outside as the hot water can cause indoor damage.
How do I get rid of ants in my lawn?
Ants enter the easy-to-set trap, take the bait, and share it with others, killing both queen and colony. Outdoors, if you see nests in your lawn or landscape, spray them with Ortho® Home Defense® Insect Killer for Lawn & Landscape Ready-to-Spray according to package directions. One treatment will give you protection for up to 3 months.