Pavement ants are a common household nuisance. Although they often take up residence within pavement cracks, they will also sometimes find their way inside homes. They will build nests in your walls and insulation, or underneath your floors. Considering that some species of ants are dangerous, many people wonder exactly the danger pavement ants pose and if you need to call your local ant control service.
Understanding if pavement ants are dangerous and what dangers they might pose is important. With the right knowledge, you can protect yourself and your home. Make sure you also know how to identify if it is the pavement ant that you see crawling around inside your home.
Identification
You can easily identify pavement ants by their colouring, body features, and size. If you see pavement ants crawling around, they are most likely worker ants, which reach approximately ⅛ of an inch in length. Typically, they are reddish-brown or black in colour with light coloured antennae and legs.
If you get a close look at the ant, pay attention to the body structure. A pavement ant will have a segment, also called a petiole, between the thorax and abdomen containing two nodes. You may also notice that the thorax, which is usually unevenly shaped, has a pair of spines. Upon closer inspection, you will notice grooves on their thorax and head.
Dangers
The pavement ant is not dangerous to people. Instead, it is more of a nuisance. They do not bite, but they do have the ability to sting. However, they are not an aggressive ant and prefer to avoid confrontation. If you pick one up, it is likely that it will pinch you as a matter of necessity and self-defence, but they will otherwise leave you alone.
Pavement ants also do not really cause any structural damages. Of course, a large number of ants may displace enough soil to cause issues with slabs or around window frames. If you believe you have a large pavement ant population living in your home, it is best to call a professional for assistance to avoid potentially minor damages.
The biggest issue you might face with the pavement ant is the fact that it loves sweet foods, which is why it is sometimes called the sugar ant. They may find their way into a sweet food source, such as a bag of sugar, or an unsealed bag or box of sweetened cereal. They will also invade packages of candy and cookies.
Therefore, the pavement ants may damage your sweet foods, because no one wants to eat food covered in ants. Instead, you will end up throwing your sweets into the trash. Make sure you put all of your sweet foods in sealed containers so pavement ants do not find themselves attracted to your home and property. Also, call a professional at the first sign of an infestation.