Pavement Ants are some of the most common, structure invading ants in Ohio. The nest is usually found outdoors along pavement cracks or in crevices of masonry and woodwork. They forage throughout the year, feeding on grease, food particles and insects. When an ant finds food it leaves a pheromone for the other ants to follow. This will often produce a trail of ants coming out of the baseboards or other areas. Pavement ants invading a structure may produce wings as their colonies grow and expand. They may be confused with termites so samples should be saved for a professional determination. Treatments my consist of liquid or solid baits, sprays, dusts or aerosols.

Carpenter ants are wood destroying insects. They remove large areas of wood, using it to build or expand their nest. This can lead to structural damage to your home or business. These ants prefer  wood that has been damaged by water or moisture because it softens the wood. Signs that you have carpenter ants include piles of sawdust and big, black ants in the kitchen, bathroom or other areas where they forage for food and water.

There are three different cast to a carpenter ant colony. Major foragers, intermediate workers and minor workers, each having a specific duty for the colony. Control methods include sprays, granules, dust and baits.

Carpenter Ants vs Termites: both ants and termites have reproductive stages where they grow wings. For this reason, it can be difficult to distinguish between the two. Pest control treatments differ per insect so identifying the insect correctly is crucial to effective treatment. Termites have relatively straight, beadlike antennae while ants have elbowed antennae. Termites have two pair of wings that are almost equal length. Ants also have two pair of wings but they are not equal lengths. Both are wood destroying insects. A positive identification should be made by a certified pest control technician.