| Description:
Pavement ants are 1/16- to 1/8-inch long with a dark body and
lighter colored legs. They have two small spines on the back portion
of the thorax, two nodes in their petioles, and their bodies are
covered with stiff hairs. Pavement ants are easily identified
by the narrow, parallel grooves on their heads and thoraxes.
Habits:
Pavement ants are commonly found in metropolitan areas in the
eastern and central United States and in California. They nest
outdoors under flat stones, under sidewalks, along curbing,
under concrete slabs, etc. They invade structures in search
of food and are a particular problem in areas where slab-on-grade
construction is prevalent. Inside structures, they nest in walls,
insulation, floors, and near heat sources during the winter.
Pavement ants feed on insects, meats, seeds,
and sweets, but they prefer meats and greases. They are slow-moving
insects and are frequently observed in areas where they are
prevalent. They forage in trails as far as 30 feet from the
nest. Although they are not particularly aggressive, workers
can bite and sting.
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