Pavement ants are the ones making that dotted black line toward your door. They swarm to mate this time of year, and while they won’t destroy your house like carpenter ants, they’ll excavate sand and uproot your patio stones. Annoying enough to deal with.
Here’s what actually works.
1. Borax Solution
Mix borax with sugar and water (equal parts sugar and borax, enough water to make a paste). The sugar attracts them, the borax kills them. More importantly, they’ll carry it back to the colony and kill the queen.
Put small amounts near trails and entry points. Don’t make puddles. You want them to find it, eat it, and take it home before they die.
2. Insecticide with Boron
Pre-made insecticides containing boron (different spelling, same active ingredient as borax) work the same way but come ready to use. Look for products labeled for ants specifically. Terro and similar brands work fine.
Apply along cracks in pavement, around door frames, anywhere you see trails. The ants track through it and bring it back to the nest.
3. Liquid Bait
Liquid bait stations are the laziest option. Set them out near ant activity and walk away. The ants drink the poison and share it with the colony.
One rule: don’t spray insecticide and put out bait at the same time. The spray either kills the ants before they can take the bait back, or it contaminates the bait and they won’t touch it. Pick one method and stick with it for at least a week.
Bait works slower but kills the colony. Spray kills what you see but doesn’t solve the problem.
