Pavement Ants (Tetramorium immigrans) are the most common "nuisance" ant in Utah. If you see tiny mounds of sand or dirt popping up in the cracks of your driveway or between your patio pavers, you are looking at the work of the Pavement Ant.
The LookThese are small ants, usually measuring about 1/8 inch in length. They range in color from dark brown to jet black.
Structural DetailsIf you were to look through a magnifying glass, you would see parallel grooves or "ridges" on their head and thorax.
The "Ant War"In early spring, you may see hundreds of these ants bunched together on a sidewalk in a chaotic swarm. These are actually two rival colonies fighting for territory.
Nesting HabitsAs their name suggests, they prefer to nest under flat, heavy objects. In Utah, this means under concrete slabs, driveways, sidewalks, and large landscaping rocks.
The EntryBecause they are so small, they can enter homes through the tiniest expansion joints in a garage floor or gaps in a sliding glass door frame.
Diet & ScoutingThey are scavengers. They love sweets, greases, and proteins. Once a "scout" finds a crumb in your pantry, it leaves a pheromone trail that leads the rest of the colony directly into your kitchen.
Why do I have sand piles on my driveway every spring?These "volcanoes" are the debris pushed out of the colony as the ants expand their tunnels underground.
Are they damaging my foundation?No. While they live under the concrete, they do not have the power to crack or shift your foundation. They are strictly a nuisance.
Will vinegar kill the colony?Vinegar kills the ants it touches and wipes out the scent trail, but it does nothing to the thousands of ants—and the queen—hiding under the concrete.
