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Pavement Ant

Easy DIY
Pavement Ant

Identification

Small brown-black ants, about 1/8 inch, that nest in and under cracks in pavement, sidewalks, and foundations. Small mounds of excavated soil around cracks are a common sign of activity.

Can I DIY this?

Easy DIY

You can handle this one yourself.

With the right product and a little patience, most homeowners take care of this pest on their own. Follow the treatment guide, read the product label, and you're set.

Download PDF guide

Recommended products

Syngenta Advion Ant Gel, 4 x 30g tubesBait the trail (indoors)Syngenta Demand CS Insecticide, 8ozOutside perimeter sprayNisus Niban Granular Bait, 10 lbsYard & foundation granular bait

Some links may be affiliate links. Buggsy may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Always follow the product label.

  1. Confirm the species and follow trails back toward the entry point and nest.
  2. Clean up food and moisture sources indoors, and seal the cracks or gaps ants are using to get in.
  3. Apply a non-repellent liquid or aerosol along baseboards, door frames, and entry points — ants can't detect it, so they track it back to the colony instead of just dying where they touch it.
  4. Set out both a protein-based and a sugar-based bait near (not on top of) the trail. Ants' preference shifts with the season, so offering both increases how much gets carried back.
  5. Treat the exterior foundation line and any vegetation touching the house with a non-repellent perimeter spray.
  6. Check bait weekly and refill as needed. Non-repellent products work slowly on purpose — expect full results in 2-4 weeks.

Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, closed-toe shoes with socks, chemical-resistant gloves, and goggles. Add a respirator if the label calls for it or ventilation is poor.