Pest Control Richmond VA Pavement Ants

 If you're noticing tiny dark ants emerging from cracks in your sidewalks or driveways around Richmond, VA, you are likely dealing with pavement ants (Tetramorium caespitum). These small, dark brown to black ants are extremely common urban pests, often seen pushing up piles of displaced soil or sand as they excavate their nests beneath paved areas. Unlike carpenter ants, which prefer wood, pavement ants establish their colonies in ground-level voids, cracks in foundations, under slabs, and even beneath insulation and subflooring in damp basements or crawl space

Pavement ants are omnivorous generalists when it comes to food. Their diet is highly varied, consuming everything from seeds, grease, and pet food to dead insects and sweet foods. They are often attracted to spilled sugary drinks and crumbs left in kitchens. You'll frequently see them marching in highly visible, distinct trails as they forage for sustenance to take back to their large colonies, which can contain tens of thousands of workers.

Like all ants, pavement ants produce winged swarmers—reproductive males and females—that emerge, typically in late spring or early summer, to establish new colonies. Seeing these small, flying ants indoors is a strong indicator of an active nest nearby. While generally considered a nuisance pest, their sheer numbers can be overwhelming. Effective pest control in Richmond requires an expert understanding of their nesting habits and the use of professional, non-repellent barrier treatments and specialized baits to address the colony at its source and prevent recurrent indoor foraging.