Saint-Amable, a municipality on the South Shore located between Varennes and Sainte-Julie, has several small local businesses whose terraces and paved entrances are exposed to pavement ant infestations. Our team intervened in a retail store specializing in natural food after the owner noticed ants circulating under the floor displays and around the checkout area. The colonies had taken root under the concrete slab of the entrance and were moving inside through the cracks in the expansion joint. In a commercial context, the presence of ants represents a serious risk to reputation and compliance with health standards.
Analysis of the situation in the commercial environment
The preliminary inspection was conducted outside of business hours to minimize disruption to customers. The technician examined the entire perimeter of the building, the adjacent parking lot, and the delivery area at the back. Three fires were identified: one under the entrance porch, a second in the cracks in the parking curb and a third in the joints of a decorative wall at the front of the business. Inside, traces of transit were found under the displays, behind the refrigerated counter and in the corner where bulk grocery bags are stored. The presence of accessible food sources, typical of food stores, had clearly accelerated the development of the colonies. A two-pronged strategy, internal and external, was therefore necessary to deal effectively with the situation.
Processing protocol adapted to the food trade
The treatment selected for this extermination of pavement ants in Saint-Amable was rigorously adapted to the food context. Outdoors, a granular bait with low toxicity to humans and pets was applied in the staging areas, accompanied by a non-volatile residual spray at the foundation periphery. Inside, gel bait stations, hidden behind the displays and under the stationary furniture, have been installed to capture the workers exploring the commercial space. These stations are safe when placed out of reach of food products and customers. Our team in Saint-Amable is used to the requirements of food businesses and systematically adapts its methods to comply with health regulations. Check out our realization on paver ants in a commercial building for a similar case successfully treated.
Corrective measures and sustainable prevention
Following the treatment, a series of corrective measures were recommended: completely repointing the entrance porch, repairing cracks in the decorative wall, installing watertight door sills and reviewing the food waste management system in the reserve. To ensure the sustainability of the results, a seasonal pest prevention plan was proposed, including periodic inspections and preventive treatments at the beginning of the hot season. A follow-up visit six weeks after the intervention confirmed colony removal and no detectable new activity. We also invite you to consult our work on anthills treated in commercial environments to better understand the range of our interventions. Nova Extermination offers professional and discreet pest control for all types of businesses on the South Shore.