ants...

[tulip]

If you put your pots up on bricks, the ants are less likely to take up residence in the pots, although they might try to under the brick. They like it dark and damp, like under and in a pot that sits directly on the patio or deck. Raising the pot on bricks keeps the area below the pot dry and airy and light, which ants don't like.

[salsabike]

Sounds like they might be pavement ants, who like to like in...concrete, of course. We've had them around our house's foundation. They're pretty harmless as long as they're not establishing themselves inside, and treating them outside always seemed kind of futile to me---I mean, we have lots of concrete around the house for them to love. They won't harm your plants.

[jessmarimba]

I have some that live in my concrete cracks too. I see them once in a blue moon - I'll come home and my porch will be CRAWLING with ants. And then by the morning, they're hiding again. Weird.

[badger]

sounds like they're part of the patio ecology then I'll leave them be.

[tulip]

Just don't bring your plants (and ants) inside.