Pavement Ants in Idaho and How to Manage Them

Pavement ants are one of the most common nuisance ants around homes in the Treasure Valley. These small brown to black ants nest beneath sidewalks, driveways, patio slabs, and concrete foundation edges. Their colonies can grow large, and when outdoor food becomes limited, they often enter homes searching for crumbs, grease, and moisture.

While pavement ants do not damage wood or structures, they can become a persistent indoor nuisance. Understanding their habits and knowing how to prevent access points is the most effective way to keep them out of Idaho homes.

What Pavement Ants Look Like

Pavement ants are small, usually around 1/8 inch long. Their features include:

• Brown or black coloring
• Parallel lines on the head
• Elbowed antennae
• A small, low mound of pushed-up soil near pavement cracks
• Large numbers of workers trailing to and from food sources

Winged pavement ants may appear in late spring or early summer during swarming events. These reproductive ants leave the colony to start new ones, and their presence often indicates a large nest nearby.

Where Pavement Ants Nest Around Idaho Homes

Pavement ants prefer environments that trap heat and moisture, which makes urban and suburban areas ideal. In the Treasure Valley, colonies are commonly found:

• Under sidewalks, driveways, and concrete slabs
• Along garage edges
• In foundation cracks
• Under landscape pavers
• Near irrigation systems and overwatered soil

When these ants come indoors, they typically nest:

• Beneath baseboards
• Inside wall voids
• Around kitchen appliances
• Near plumbing fixtures
• Behind bathroom cabinets

Although they do not cause structural damage, pavement ants can persist for long periods once they establish a satellite colony indoors.

What Pavement Ants Eat

Pavement ants are opportunistic feeders and will eat:

• Sweets
• Grease
• Proteins
• Dead insects
• Pet food
• Seeds
• Honeydew from aphids and other plant insects

Their diet is one of the main reasons they enter homes. Even the smallest amount of residue can support a trail.

Signs of Pavement Ant Activity

Common indicators include:

• Ant trails along baseboards or countertops
• Soil pushed up along cracks in concrete or pavement
• Ants emerging from foundation gaps
• Winged swarmers near windows or patio doors

Most activity increases during warmer months or when weather patterns shift suddenly.

How to Prevent Pavement Ants in Idaho Homes

Effective prevention focuses on sealing access points, reducing attractants, and improving outdoor conditions around the home.

Seal Entry Points

• Caulk gaps around doors, windows, and siding
• Seal cracks in foundation and concrete slabs
• Install door sweeps where light shows under the threshold
• Tighten plumbing and utility entry points

Small openings often go unnoticed and may support multiple ant colonies entering along the same path.

Reduce Food Sources Indoors

• Wipe counters and sweep floors daily
• Store pantry items in sealed containers
• Clean spills immediately
• Rinse recyclables
• Avoid leaving pet food out overnight

Even a tiny crumb can attract an entire colony.

Correct Moisture Issues

• Fix leaking pipes or faucets
• Reduce irrigation overspray along foundations
• Improve drainage around the home
• Keep mulch and landscape rock pulled back from siding

Moisture is one of the strongest environmental attractants for pavement ants.

Maintain Your Yard

• Trim shrubs away from exterior walls
• Rake soil and remove debris touching foundation edges
• Reduce thick mulch layers where ants could hide
• Treat plant insects that produce honeydew

Landscaping conditions play a major role in long term ant pressure.

Control Options for Active Pavement Ant Infestations

Use Ant Baits Instead of Sprays

Professionally formulated baits work best because pavement ants carry the product back to the colony, which allows the entire nest to be eliminated.

Avoid Repellents

Repellent sprays scatter ants and may push them deeper into wall voids, making the problem worse.

Target the Outdoor Colony

Pavement ant nests are usually outdoors. Treating only inside the home provides temporary relief but does not address the source.

Professional Treatment

A trained technician can:

• Identify nests
• Apply non repellent products that ants cannot detect
• Place baits in strategic locations
• Recommend structural corrections to prevent reinvasion

This is especially helpful when colonies return each season or when ants are coming from inaccessible areas like crawl spaces or slab cracks.

When to Call Pestcom Pest Management

If you are seeing persistent trails, swarmers, or an increase in activity each spring or summer, professional treatment is recommended. Pavement ants spread easily between neighboring properties, and one untreated colony can supply multiple satellite nests.

Pestcom Pest Management can inspect your property, identify colony sources, and create a targeted treatment plan that protects your home long term.