The appearance of small piles of sand or fine joint material on a paved surface is the most common sign of an ant infestation. Ants are attracted to the spaces between pavers because the joints offer protection, and the underlying material provides easily excavated material for nesting. As the workers tunnel, they displace the joint fill, which compromises the interlock of the paving stones. Addressing these colonies quickly is necessary to prevent the pavers from sinking or shifting.
Non-Toxic and Household Removal Methods
A quick, direct approach to eliminate a visible ant mound involves using boiling water, which is fast-acting. Pouring the water directly into the center of the nest entrance provides instantaneous thermal eradication for the ants it contacts. However, the water loses heat rapidly as it penetrates the soil and may not reach a deep-seated queen, allowing the colony to relocate or quickly rebuild. Exercise caution, as the extreme heat can damage surrounding vegetation or potentially crack sensitive pavers.
Another effective household option uses a simple dish soap solution to disrupt the ants’ biological defenses. Dish soap acts as a surfactant, breaking the surface tension of water and causing the liquid to coat the ants completely. This coating suffocates the insects by blocking the spiracles, which are the small external pores they use for breathing. Furthermore, the soapy mixture helps to wash away the invisible chemical pheromone trails that workers use to guide other ants to the nesting site, effectively disorienting the colony.
For a non-chemical treatment, food-grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE) can be applied directly into the paver joints. This naturally occurring powder is composed of the fossilized remains of diatoms, which are microscopically sharp and abrasive. When an ant walks across the fine powder, the particles adhere to its exoskeleton, cutting through the protective, waxy outer layer. This physical breach leads to desiccation, causing the insect to lose moisture and die from dehydration.
Targeted Insecticide and Bait Treatments
When dealing with a persistent or large-scale paver infestation, targeted insecticide treatments offer effective colony elimination. Ant baits, available in granular or gel forms, utilize a slow-acting poison mixed with an attractive food source. Worker ants consume the bait and carry it back to the nest, sharing it with the queen, larvae, and other colony members, eliminating the entire population. Because the goal is to eliminate the queen, baits require patience and can take several days or weeks to achieve full effect.
Insecticide dusts and granules provide a faster, long-lasting contact and barrier method when applied directly to active mounds or paver joints. Dust formulations should be puffed lightly into visible entrances, where the fine particles adhere to the ants’ bodies and are carried deep into the tunnels. Granular products are sprinkled over the surface and often require a light watering to activate the insecticide, creating a residual barrier that kills ants on contact as they travel across the treated surface.
Liquid perimeter sprays can be used to create a chemical barrier around the entire patio or walkway to deter new ant trails. While useful for prevention, direct application of dusts or granular products into the paver joints is more effective for eliminating established colonies. Always follow product instructions precisely regarding application rates and safety precautions to prevent runoff. Selecting the correct product depends on the desired outcome: baits target the colony source, and contact killers provide immediate, localized results.
Structural Maintenance for Long-Term Control
Preventative structural maintenance is the most effective way to modify the paver environment, making it less hospitable for future ant nesting. Applying polymeric sand into the paver joints is a primary defense against excavation and colony establishment. This specialized joint material is a mixture of fine sand and polymer additives that harden when activated with water, forming a rigid, durable bond. The resulting hardened surface prevents ants from digging out the joint material.
Proper installation requires thoroughly sweeping the sand into the joints, compacting it, and then carefully misting the area to cure the polymers. Applying a paver sealer to the surface and joints can enhance the long-term effectiveness of the joint material. Sealing the pavers creates a protective barrier that reduces surface porosity and helps lock the polymeric sand in place, inhibiting ant access. This practice also makes the surface less appealing for nesting and easier to clean.
Regular upkeep is necessary for long-term ant control. Loose or eroded joint material should be promptly refilled to deny ants easy access points for tunneling. Sweeping away organic debris or food residue from the paved surface is also helpful, as these materials attract foraging ants. Modifying the physical environment through these structural methods addresses the root cause of the infestation and reduces the likelihood of recurrence.