Identification
Dark brown to black, 2.5–3 mm, with paler legs and antennae. Two petiole nodes, parallel grooves on the head and thorax (visible at 10×), and a small pair of spines on the propodeum. Soil mounds with very fine, evenly-sorted grains pushed up through sidewalk cracks are diagnostic.
Biology & Colony Structure
Single-queen colonies of 3,000–10,000 workers. Spring mating flights April–June. Famous for ritualized 'pavement ant wars' on sidewalks in early spring as adjacent colonies battle for territory, large clusters of grappling workers on a sidewalk in May are almost always this species.
Pest Status & Significance
Universal urban nuisance, enters kitchens, basements, and ground-floor units; trails through foundation cracks; piles soil out of cracks in walks and patios. Not medically or structurally significant.
Pavement Ant Control Strategy
Granular bait broadcast around foundation and along sidewalk and slab edges, plus a non-repellent perimeter band. Direct injection of dust into expansion joints where mounds emerge can collapse colonies quickly.
Recommended Baits & Active Ingredients
Product names are representative of the active-ingredient class and intended for licensed PMPs. Always read and follow the label; rates, sites, and restrictions vary by formulation and state registration.
| Product | Active | Form | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maxforce Complete Granular Insect Bait | Hydramethylnon 1.0% | Granular | Primary tool, broadcast around foundation and along sidewalks/driveways. |
| Advion Ant Gel | Indoxacarb 0.05% | Gel | Spot interior trails. |
| Termidor SC | Fipronil 9.1% | Spray | Non-repellent perimeter band; pair with granular bait. |
| Delta Dust | Deltamethrin 0.05% | Dust | Inject into sidewalk expansion joints and slab cracks where mounds appear. |