What is on my patio?

[Scienceseeker]

Are these little mounds linked to ants? No sign of ants yet, but do tend to get them around the height of summer every year.

If so, how do I treat the mounds of dirt?

Yes it looks like ants being ants. Just brush it away with a broom if it bothers you?

It’s not the dirt itself that bothers me, more what could be lurking underneath. Any tips on getting rid of the actual ants?

Why on earth (no pun intended) do you want to get rid of the ants? What possible harm can they do to your patio?

Leave them - they'll be fine and they'll provide a good food source for other wildlife.

Technically, you can buy ant powder, but this also can kill a lot of garden wildlife such as small birds which eat a lot of contaminated ants who then get slowly poisoned. Other essential insects could also get poisoned, so I'd urge you to re-consider attempting to get rid of them.

Why would you need to "treat"dirt, whatever it is it helps you and me eat, breathe and survive. We should be worshipping these tiny creatures we'd starve without them.