How To Kill Patio and Pavement Ants

Patio ants or pavement ants are a small species of ant that nests next to or under patios and other concrete surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways. Patio ants are about one-eighth of an inch in size, but quickly become a nuisance when they travel into your home in search of food.

These tiny ants can also do tremendous damage to your patio, ruining the structural integrity of your deck when they bore down and nest under the concrete, eventually making the concrete sink in spots and crack. With the right instructions, you can effectively eradicate a colony of these ants and protect your home, utility room and patio from damage.

What you will need

• Boric Acid
• Sugar
• Dry bottle
• Water
• Disposable cup
• Plastic spoon
• Cardboard scraps
• Disposable liquid dropper

Make a mixture of boric acid and sugar by combining the two parts of boric acid for each one part of sugar. Only a small amount, about half a cup of sugar and 1 cup of boric acid exchanges. Place the mixture in a dry bottle to use as needed.

Measure out about a teaspoon of boric acid and sugar mixture and place in a disposable cup. Apply a few drops of water to the powder mixture and stir the mixture with a plastic spoon. Add water until the mixture is the consistency of raw egg whites remain.

Cut the pieces of cardboard scrap into small squares measuring about 1 ½-inches. Use a disposable liquid dropper Suck up most of the liquid mixture and apply one drop to each cardboard square.

Set the cardboard squares near where you have seen the ants traveling. Keep an eye on the square, and you will soon notice that the ants flock to the liquid and carry it away with them. This does not mean it is not killing them, the mixture lasts a while with the ants, during which time the ant brings it back to the colony, effectively destroying the entire colony.

Tips & Warnings

You can also sprinkle the dry mixture in concrete cracks and holes between the house and the patio; the boric acid attaches to the sugar particles.

Do not place the boric acid and sugar mixture in an area that a small child or pet may have access to as it will poison and may make the pet or person very sick.