Pavement ants invade Asbury Park, NJ property

There is nothing like a few sunny days and plenty of rain for insects, especially ants, to become very active. This holds especially true for those ant species like pavement ants that build shallow nests under pavers, mulch, decks, and rotted wood. When their nests become flooded, they desperately search for higher drier ground, and they often wind up inside our homes through gaps and cracks in the foundation and openings around doors and windows. 

Recently, I sent to a home in Asbury Park, NJ, to resolve what the homeowner described as a major ant problem. Upon arrival, I inspected the entire exterior perimeter of the home to determine is there were insect issues besides ants. I only saw a few foraging ants trailing between the wall structure and the deck. Even if you only see a few ants, it is often just the tip of the iceberg. Somewhere nearby there is a nest, and that nest can house hundreds of ants. The major problem with ant infestations is their sheer numbers, and you can’t judge the size of the colony based on the number of foraging ants that happen to cross your path.

I was determined to find their nest and flush these pests out in the open. I put down granular and gel bait in the visible cracks of the deck, and patiently waited a few minutes for the product to take effect. These baits are highly effective attractants, and once a few foraging ants find some new “treasure,” it doesn’t take long for other ants to join the party. Sure enough, the ants took the bait (literally) and hundreds of ants came out. My strategy was to drag the ants out from under the deck and lure them to the far exterior of the home, away from the interior of the home where ants can cause a lot of trouble. The attached video shows the effectiveness of a professional ant treatment.