Otterburn Park, a residential municipality on the South Shore nestled between McMasterville and Saint-Basile-le-Grand, is renowned for its tree-lined neighbourhoods and large properties with neat outdoor amenities. Our team was approached by the owners of a single-family residence whose backyard built around an in-ground pool had been invaded by pavement ants. The natural stone slabs surrounding the pool, set on a bed of sand, provided an ideal environment for the establishment of several settlements that had gradually migrated to the house. The owners had first tried treatments available in hardware stores, but the ants systematically came back a few weeks later.
Colony diagnosis and identification of routes of entry
The initial inspection made it possible to understand the failure of previous treatment attempts: over-the-counter products target ants visible on the surface, without reaching the queens nestled deep under the slabs. The technician located four active fireplaces, two directly under the slabs of the pool on the sun side, one in the sand bed under the covered terrace and a fourth in the joints of the stair step leading to the basement. Secondary galleries connected the colonies to each other, forming a complex network that was difficult to interrupt without systemic treatment. The interior inspection revealed a main entrance route around a drain line through the foundation, which has been cracked for several seasons. This in-depth analysis is essential for designing a sustainable treatment plan.
Professional treatment of colonies
The action plan for this extermination of pavement ants in Otterburn Park combined three complementary techniques. First, a slow-transfer liquid bait deposited in impermeable bait stations, strategically placed on the transit trails around the pool, made it possible to contaminate the queens in less than two weeks. Then, a long-persistence contact spray was applied in a full belt around the foundation. Finally, the joints of the natural stone slabs received an injection treatment of insecticidal gel penetrating to the surface galleries. The damaged drain line has been caulked with a professional-grade hydraulic product. Our team in Otterburn Park provides complete support, from inspection to final follow-up. Consult our realization on paver ants around residential outdoor landscaping for a similar case successfully treated. You can also browse our work on anthills in large-plot properties to compare our approach.
Follow-up and prevention plan for the summer season
After the treatment, the owners were given clear instructions for the summer season: avoid watering the treated areas for 72 hours, regularly inspect the joints between the slabs at the beginning and end of the season and eliminate any food attraction near the deck. To protect the outdoor area from crawling insects in the long term, we recommended an outdoor insect treatment before each pool opening. A verification visit took place a month after the intervention and confirmed the total absence of colonial activity. Our extermination services in Quebec cover the entire South Shore for effective treatments that respect your outdoor landscaping.