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However, if this still doesn’t work and you’re at a loose end, Daniel Steward, Managing Director at Shield Pest Control, has some tips. ‘If you notice a swarm of flying ants in your home, spray pesticides can help to rid of visible ants that are flying around or resting on surfaces,’ he says. So, it may sound obvious, but closing your windows is one of the best ways to get rid of flying ants.
How do I know they are not termites? What is the difference?
Dilute peppermint oil, clove oil, or citrus oils (such as lemon or orange oil) with water and spray it in areas where you want to deter flying ants. Flying ants are attracted to the same things that regular ants are — namely sugar and food. This is because insects use natural lights like the sun and the moon to orient themselves, so artificial light confuses them. Any pest is an unwelcome visitor in our homes, especially ones that swarm in on mass the way flying ants do. We have consulted with pest control experts to find out how to get rid of flying ants and keep them away from the house for good.
How to Get Rid of Flying Ants in Your Home, According to Pest Experts
However, this confusion is only likely for spotting individual ants, not whole swarms, because wasps and sawflies do not form swarms. While you might think a super breed of ant has suddenly taken over your home, flying ants are not a separate species or variety of ant. Nearly all ant species (family Formicidae) produce flying ants at certain times of the year. These unique ants are known as alates and they fulfill several vital biological roles, such as establishing new colonies. If you see flying ants outside and away from your property it is best to leave them be. When flying ants have entered your home, however, exterminating the pests can be one of the few ways to get them out of your house.
Swarms of flying ants arrive in Ireland - why they are here & how to get rid of them - RSVP Live
Swarms of flying ants arrive in Ireland - why they are here & how to get rid of them.
Posted: Fri, 28 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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As these infestations grow in and around your home, the flying ants can burrow in the wood that contributes to the foundation of your home. This can lead to structural damage and collapse if the infestation is large enough. The best way to identify a flying ant is to catch one and look at it closely. During your examination, you’ll discover flying ants have bent antennas, pinched waists, different front and back wing lengths and are black or brown. If you don’t have peppermint oil in hand, you can use different essential oils, also known to work as a repellent. You can use clove, tea tree, cinnamon, patchouli, and cedarwood oils.
During this time, their primary goal is to mate and establish new colonies. After this brief period, they die off, and the newly mated females seek suitable locations to lay their eggs and start new ant colonies. The male ants die soon after mating, and females lose their wings once they have mated and they establish a new colony. The good news is that most of those annoying flying ants are doomed to die shortly. Drone ants do not live very long because their only purpose is to mate.
Ants that sting like fire ants are highly unlikely to sting in their winged form, because most of them are male ants, who do not have stingers (this is true of bees and wasps as well). In general, swarming insects are very vulnerable because they do not have a colony, so they aren’t aggressive. Flying ants are just the reproductively active version of regular old ants. The wings help males (drones) and females (queens) leave their old nest quickly and mate in the air. Other insects that are relatives of ants may also be confused for flying ants, like wasps and sawflies.
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Stacy is a journalist and content creator with a decade of experience. Besides Forbes Home she has contributed her work and expertise to publications such as Angi, HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila, Hunker, Shelfology, HomeLight, Apartment Therapy and more. Alternatively, try an insecticide that will be carried back to the nest, such as Vitax Nippon Ant Killer Liquid. Once that happens, hundreds of others can follow the trail to the food source. Ants occasionally come inside in search of water, particularly during dry periods.
Flying carpenter ants gain easy access to your home through open doors and windows, as well as cracks in walls and roofs. So, inspect your home for any cracks, gaps, or openings that could serve as entry points for flying ants. Seal these areas using caulk or weatherstripping to create a physical barrier and prevent their access. Ordinarily, regular workers are sterile in an ant colony, and only the Queen can reproduce.
She is a professor of Horticulture, an Education Specialist, and a pest specialist. However, queen termites can live for decades under the right climate conditions and workers live for a few years, which makes their pest infestations a cause for concern. Ghost ants are a similar size to Pharaoh’s ants and are pale coloured with a dark thorax and head. Both Pharaoh’s ants and Ghost ants should be dealt with by a professional. The British Pest Control Association have an online directory where you can find your nearest pest controller.
Flying ants tend to enter homes through cracks in walls, so you’ll want to seal these in order to decrease the chances of the insects returning. Grab some caulk and a caulking gun, and seal any cracks you see in the walls, baseboards, windows and floors. Unfortunately, ant infestations that reach the swarming stage are often hidden within the confines of your home.
"One of the first signs of an indoor infestation is the sudden appearance of swarming flying ants," says Jordan. "There might be an infestation hidden in your wall voids, a nest somewhere else within your home, or even a nest outside on your property." "However, the hidden colony cannot be eliminated until it is dealt with on a long-term basis," warns Jordan. "Track down the nest first, as only attacking the colony itself will rid your home of flying ants permanently. If necessary, you can also use fumigation or professional fogging services." "Pesticides can be used indoors and outdoors to terminate crawling and flying ants." The trouble with flying ants is the sheer volume because they arrive on mass, so getting rid of them can feel overwhelming.
You can seal any wall, window, floor, or baseboard cracks by using some caulk and a caulking gun. The proximity of their nests influences the number of flying ants you encounter. These colonies can exist in various locations, such as in the ground, in trees, or within the structure of buildings. Tea tree, cinnamon, clove, cedarwood and patchouli oils could all work in place of the peppermint oil here. The real issue with spotting an ant swarm is that it tells you there are other ants already living in the house. Thankfully, unlike termites, ants are more of a nuisance than a major source of damage, though certain ant species like carpenter ants can cause (or more likely worsen) damage in the home.
In termites, the wings are typically of equal length and have a more uniform shape. While both flying ants and termites have wings, their body shapes are different. Flying ants have a pinched waist, with a distinctly segmented body. In contrast, termites have a more uniform, straight body without a distinct waist. Flying ants are also attracted to light sources, especially during their mating season.
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