The pavement ant derives its name from its habit of nesting beside and under sidewalks, driveways and foundations. If ants are nesting indoors, the alates typically emerge from under baseboards, expansion joints, or from floor registers connected to heating ducts. In commercial buildings, they often become a nuisance when the alates emerge from openings in walls above false ceilings and drop into the rooms below. Usually, they will leave conspicuous piles of excavated soil in their paths.
As household pests, they are attracted to both greasy and sweet foods.