Content updated: June 5, 2026

Key takeaways

  • Pavement ants, identifiable by their small size and dark coloration, commonly nest in soil near sidewalks and driveways.
  • They prefer warm environments and often forage for sugary and greasy foods, making kitchens a potential target for infestation.
  • Pavement ant colonies can support thousands of individuals and have a distinct structure that includes a queen, workers, and reproductive ants.
  • Signs of pavement ant infestations include displaced soil near pavement and the presence of ants inside homes, particularly in search of food.

Jump to section:

Pavement identification

Pavement ant behavior and habitat

Pavement ant life cycle and reproduction

Signs of pavement ants

Are pavement ants dangerous?

Pavement ants as pets

How to get rid of pavement ants

Pavement ants (Tetramorium caespitum) are also known as concrete ants and cement ants. These sugar ants are small, dark brown to black, and commonly found around sidewalks, driveways, and building foundations. They’re most active in warmer months, often spotted trailing along cracks or sneaking into kitchens in search of food. Learn more about this type of ant and how professionals can help get rid of pavement ants in the house.

pavement ant on stone

Pavement ant identification

Ever seen ants swarming around sidewalk cracks during the summer? Then you’ve likely spotted pavement ants. Here’s how to identify this ant species:

  • Size: About one-eighth of an inch long (up to three mm).

  • Color: Pavement ants can appear dark brown to black. They have dark lines running the length of their body.

  • Body shape: These ants have a spined thorax and legs that are lighter than the rest of their body.

  • Wings: Reproductive ants, or swarmers, grow wings and emerge during mating season, while the worker ants stay wingless.

pavement ant in hole with other ants

Pavement ants vs. carpenter ants

Pavement ants and carpenter ants can be distinguished by several key characteristics.

  • Pavement ants are typically small, measuring about two to four mm in length, with a dark brown or black coloration and a distinctive petiole with two nodes, giving them a segmented appearance. They often create nests under sidewalks, driveways, or other pavement.

  • Carpenter ants are larger, ranging from six to 12 mm, and display a solid black or bicolored appearance, with a more pronounced single node at the waist. Carpenter ants are known for nesting in wood, often creating tunnels and cavities that can damage structures. Additionally, while pavement ants generally forage on the surface for food, carpenter ants are more likely to be found in wood or secluded areas near their nests. .

Pavement ant behavior and habitat

Compared to other common ants, pavement ant behavior is less well-known. So what are pavement ants? Here’s what we know:

  • Preferred habitats: These ants prefer to nest in soil next to and beneath slabs, sidewalks, patios, and driveways. Piles of displaced soil next to or on top of pavement can be a sign of a colony.
  • Geographic range: Pavement ants are an invasive species from Europe that can now be found across the United States. They are common in the East Coast, the Midwest, and Southern states, as well as some Western states like California and Washington.
  • Diet: Pavement ants will forage for nectar and small seeds as well as greasy or sugary foods for their diet.
  • Swarming season: Winged reproductive ants emerge in the late spring to summer to mate and make new colonies. Growing pavement ant colonies will attack and kill rival pavement ant colonies to expand their territory.
  • Colony structure: Pavement ant colonies include one egg-laying queen, worker ants to maintain the nest and forage, and reproductive ants to help grow the colony.

Pavement ant life cycle and reproduction

Pavement ants, or concrete ants, have a life cycle with four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Their colonies can support thousands of ants, and large numbers are important since they battle rival pavement ant colonies for territory. Learn how long pavement ants can live and how they reproduce:

  1. Lifespan: Pavement ants can live up to five years or longer.
  2. Reproduction rate: The time it takes for a pavement ant egg to become an adult is around 36 to 63 days. Queens lay eggs year-round, but reproduction peaks during swarming season.
  3. Swarming and colony growth: In late spring through summer, winged male and female pavement ants leave the nest to mate. After mating, the females shed their wings, find a nesting spot, and begin laying eggs to start a new colony.

Signs of pavement ants

Noticing pavement ants around your home can mean there’s a nest nearby. Learn where these ants can be found and stay alert to these signs of pavement ants:

  • Soil piles: Heaps of displaced soil near pavement slabs outdoors or near indoor structures, like basements and garages, are signs of a nest.
  • Soil under baseboards: Pavement ants can nest under foundations or within hollow block foundation walls. If soil appears under baseboards, this could be a sign of pavement ants.

While pavement ants primarily live outside, they could make their way into your home:

  • What attracts pavement ants? Pavement ants are attracted to food sources like sugary foods, greasy foods, crumbs, and spills. Like many ants, they follow scent trails to find their way to food.
  • How do they get inside? Pavement ants can access any small openings, such as gaps around windows, spaces under doors, or cracks in foundations.

many many pavement ants on pavement

Are pavement ants dangerous?

Pavement ants are not very destructive to home structures or aggressive to humans. You are not likely to get a pavement ant bite if you disturb a nest, but they can sting. Pavement ant stingers are generally too small for humans to feel. The danger from pavement ants is from contamination. Like many pests, they can spoil foods, such as pantry items and pet foods.

In terms of their ecological role, they help aerate the soil, improving drainage and promoting healthy plant growth. Their presence in the soil also contributes to decomposition, aiding the breakdown of organic matter.

Pavement ants as pets

Interested in ants as a pet? Pavement ants can be easy to care for in a small ant farm. They need a secure enclosure, a bit of moisture, and simple foods like sugar water and small protein sources to survive. While they’re not the most interactive species, they’re an easy ant species for beginners. Just be sure to secure them in the enclosure or rearing container to prevent inadvertently infesting the home.

How to get rid of pavement ants

One or two pavement ants can quickly grow into a colony of thousands. Here are ways you can prevent pavement ants in your house:

  1. Close off entry points: Seal cracks and holes around doors, window seals, and other openings to prevent ants and other pests from entering.
  2. Clear out brush: Keep vegetation cut away from the foundation of the home.
  3. Create a perimeter: Avoid using items such as stones and landscape timbers next to the home's foundation. Pavement ants nesting under these items are likely to infest the home.
  4. Manage garden beds: Apply layers of mulch less than two inches thick and at least 12 inches away from the foundation in landscape beds.
  5. Disrupt scent trails: Use a vinegar-water mixture, as the strong smell interferes with their ability to communicate and navigate back to the colony.

Individual pavement ant colonies can be managed with DIY ant control like ant baits, but a perimeter inspection and treatment plan is vital for long-term relief. Pavement ant colonies are controlled by direct treatment of nests in the soil. When colonies are located under slabs, ant baits may be effective at controlling an infestation. If baits are unsuccessful, the slab may need to be drilled and treated underneath.

Professional ant control can help you get rid of pavement ants in the house and keep them from returning. Experts know where to look, what to treat, and how to prevent future problems. Schedule your inspection today with Terminix and take the first step toward solving your pavement ant problems.