Pest Spotlight: Pavement Ants In Reno

Pavement ants are one of the most prevalent ant species in the country, and the pavement ants in Reno are a common issue. They get their name from their tendency to construct their nests under the pavement. Pavement ants are also known by the name "sugar ants" due to their attraction to sweet foods like honeydew, sugar, and crumbs from sugary foods. They are typically outdoor ants but will venture indoors if lured by the right food source or to shelter from inclement weather.

Pavement ants build their colonies underneath patio stones, brick walls, and cracks in sidewalks and driveways. Ant colonies can be quite large, consisting of up to 10,000 workers. These nests are identifiable by the mounds of dirt they leave on top of pavement due to excavating the tunnels. However, they can also make their way inside and build nests in walls, insulation, and underneath carpets.

These ants range in color from light brown to black, with legs that are usually lighter in color than the body. They are about 1/8 inch long and have parallel lines or ridges that run down their heads and thorax. Pavement ants have a distinct-looking antenna with 12 segments, including a club end with three components.

It is not easy to eliminate pavement ants if the colonies are allowed to get large. Each colony will contain several queens and thousands of worker ants. The queens will branch off to create new nests, and before you know it, you could have an infestation. Contacting your local Reno pest control company is your best bet. Celtic Pest Control has years of experience in ant control. Call us to learn about our safe and effective solutions.

Do Pavement Ants Bite?

Pavement ants do not bite but do have a stinger. They are docile insects and aren't aggressive toward humans. Pavement ants are territorial, and ant colonies will defend their nests from other ants. If a person does disturb or irritate a pavement ant, it will attempt to sting them, but their stingers are relatively weak and rarely break the skin. On rare occasions, someone with allergies may have a reaction to the sting. 

Do Pavement Ants Cause Structural Damage?

These six-legged creatures don't tend to cause any structural damage to homes. Even though they create vast colonies under places like driveways, the chance of your driveway collapsing is minimal. They are expert little miners, and the tunnels excavated in their nests are extremely narrow and don't pose a cave-in threat. The only minimal risk is the settling of pavement stones or sidewalk segments.

Natural Ways To Deter Pavement Ants In Reno

When supplied with the lure of food, pavement ants will jump at the opportunity of an easy meal. Although these are typically outside dwellers, they will enter homes for food and shelter. They can form lines 30 feet away from nests to bring food back to their colonies. 

Pavement ants are not known to spread diseases but can contaminate any food they contact inside your home. A few easy tips can help make your house less attractive to pavement ants that don't require chemicals. You can implement these steps: 

• Keep your kitchen countertops and food pantries clean and free of spills and food crumbs.
• Make sure doors and windows have a tight seal when closed. Also, check the home's exterior for cracks and crevices that ants could use as an entry point.
• Empty trash and recycling bins regularly. Keep tight lids on all garbage cans. 
• Don't leave food in your pet's food bowls for an extended period.
• Reseal opened food packages and store them in sealed containers. 

These are just helpful tips to aid in ant prevention, and don't promise that your home will stay free of ants. If you need ant control, a professional is your best bet. 

How To Eradicate A Pavement Ant Infestation

Ant infestations can be a difficult pest problem to eradicate or prevent without the help of a professional pest control company. Our technicians at Celtic Pest Control are highly trained and certified and will provide you with top-quality customer service. Contact us today to learn about our treatment and prevention service plans.