Common small ants in Northeast Ohio include pavement ants and little black ants, both of which are dark brown to black and about an eighth of an inch long. These ants favor an outdoor environment, but while little black ants are typically found in moist areas under rocks or rotting trees, pavement ants, as their name suggests, will often nest under sidewalks and concrete slabs. Both will find their way inside during cooler weather and in search of food.
Pavement ants are especially attracted to sugar and are more likely to enter homes and contaminate food. Both species, once inside, can exist in large numbers in baseboards, woodworking, and wall voids.
Even smaller than the little black ant and pavement ant is the pharaoh ant, a tiny, nearly transparent, red colored insect that is a particular problem in hospitals and the food service industry. The pharaoh ant will nest in indoor settings in cooler climates, growing to extremely large colonies. Evidence of an infestation should be addressed quickly before branch colonies are formed.