Pavement Ants
TETRAMORIUM CAESPITUM
Color: Dark brown to blackish
Shape: Segmented; oval
Size: 1/16 – 1/8 inch long
Region: Found throughout the eastern half of the U.S., California, and Washington
OVERVIEW
Pavement ants get their name because they make their nests in or under cracks in pavement; however, they can also infest structures. Pavement ant colonies are moderately large, averaging around 4,000 workers with several queens..
HABITS
These ants will eat almost anything, including other insects, seeds, honeydew, honey, bread, meats, nuts, and cheese. In buildings, they are most likely to be found in ground-level masonry walls of foundations, but they will occasionally nest in walls, insulation and under floors, and near heat sources in the winter. They enter buildings through cracks in the slab and walls, as well as through natural openings. Outside, these ants typically nest under stones, pavement cracks, and next to buildings.
THREATS
These ants do not pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food and should be avoided.
