Saint-Hubert, a borough of Longueuil located on the South Shore, is home to an important industrial and logistics sector around the airport and the commercial areas of Cousineau Street. Warehouses and industrial buildings in this sector face special pest management challenges: their large areas, numerous loading docks, cracked concrete floors and storage spaces create ideal conditions for the establishment of large-scale anthills. We were mandated to intervene in a distribution warehouse located in the Saint-Hubert industrial park, where the operations manager reported columns of ants crossing the goods reception area.
Inspection of a large industrial perimeter
Inspecting an industrial building of this size requires a rigorous methodology. Our team of two technicians systematically walked the entire length of the building’s exterior perimeter, inspecting the expansion joints of the concrete deck, the spaces under the loading docks, the vegetated areas along the fence and the stormwater drain basins. Inside, the inspection focused on cracks in the industrial floor, wall joints, pipe passages and storage areas where wooden pallets had been stored for several months without being moved.
We identified two distinct species cohabiting in the same building: fragrant ants (Tapinoma sessile) indoors, attracted by the residue of a syrup spill that occurred a few weeks earlier, and pavemente ants outside, with several active nests in the cracks of the concrete deck near the docks. The cohabitation of two species complicates treatment, as their feeding behaviours and nesting structures differ significantly.
Coordinated two-part treatment
For indoor ants, we opted for borax-based bait gels applied in cracks in the floor and along walls, away from cargo handling areas. This type of product is effective for odorous ants that are particularly attracted to sweet baits. Wood pallets stored for too long were moved and inspected one by one, and those with galleries were set aside for safe destruction.
For the exterior ants, our technicians carried out a localized injection in each nest identified in the cracks of the concrete deck, followed by a residual barrier spray along the foundation wall along the entire length of the loading docks. Robust, weather-resistant bait stations were attached every ten meters along the perimeter for continuous coverage.
The destruction of anthills in an industrial environment mobilizes resources and methods different from those used in residential settings. For other examples of our work, see this project in the context of a large building and this file on ants in a commercial building.
Operational recommendations and follow-up
At the end of the intervention, we sent a report to the operations manager with recommendations adapted to the industrial context:
- Establish an immediate clean-up protocol for any spills of sugary or food-grade liquids, as these residues are the main source of attraction for odorous ants.
- Regularly inspect and return pallets that have been stored for more than three weeks to detect early nesting before it spreads.
- Repair cracks in the exterior concrete deck during the next site maintenance, with priority given to the loading docks.
- Install sealing brushes under all dock doors, replacing the worn seals currently in place.
Our team of exterminators in Saint-Hubert regularly intervenes in the industrial and commercial sectors of the South Shore. For companies wishing to implement continuous protection, our pest prevention plan offers scheduled inspection visits and proactive management tailored to large industrial areas. Our certified extermination team is with you every step of the way, from the initial inspection to long-term follow-up to ensure your site is compliant.