Why are there suddenly flying ants in my house?
Seeing flying ants means that there is a mature nest nearby, either outside or inside your home. When an ant colony matures and is near its maximum population, it will produce and send out flying ants to start new nests. If the ant you are seeing is a carpenter ant, you could be looking at trouble.
Why do I keep finding ants with wings in my house?
If you see a swarm of flying ants inside your home, it may mean you have a colony of ants living inside your wall voids or nearby on your property. In that case, call a pest management professional immediately.
How do I get rid of winged ants in my house?
You can get rid of flying ants by mixing one part liquid dish soap and two parts water in a spray bottle and adding several drops of peppermint oil to the mixture. Shake the bottle, and then spray the flying ants wherever you see them. The soap will dehydrate the insects, while the peppermint oil suffocates them.
Should I worry about flying ants?
Flying ants take flight to mate, gathering in massive clusters, then return to an existing nest or seek out a new one. Flying ants do not bite, and they pose no danger to humans. However, winged ants look a lot like termites—a pest that can be a significant problem if you don’t treat them properly.
Can flying ants damage your home?
Flying ants can be quite a nuisance, but they are harmless and don’t cause structural damage to your home. However, termites do pose a threat and can destroy your home if you let them stay for too long. That’s why contacting an expert like your friends at University Termite and Pest Control is so important.
How do you tell where flying ants are coming from?
Typically, these ants stay outside of the home, but if you see a flying ant inside, or worse, a swarm inside, flying ants may have found their way in through a foundation crack and made a nest. Often the ants are found around the foundation of the home and even around trash cans or sheds.
Where are these flying ants coming from?
What Causes Flying Ants? Flying ants are found in the home for the same reason as crawling ants: there are sources of food and moisture and areas for establishing colonies. Most species of ants feed on ordinary food substances, and they can colonize in almost any dark, hidden area.
Are flying ants in a house a problem?
Flying ants can be quite a nuisance, but they are harmless and don’t cause structural damage to your home. However, termites do pose a threat and can destroy your home if you let them stay for too long.
Should I be worried about ants with wings?
Although carpenter ants can chew through wood and create property damage, generally speaking flying ants are not dangerous. They are not more likely to bite and they are not poisonous. They are, however, annoying and a swarm of flying ants can lead to a full-on ant infestation around your home.
Do flying ants live in walls?
Citronella ants: winged ants swarm indoors from cracks and gaps in floors or walls and from the basement and foundation; feed on honeydew from aphids and mealybugs that live underground.
How long do flying ants stay around?
After the nuptial flight, the male ants usually only live for another day or two, so not much more than a week in total. Their sole reason for existence is to mate with new queens. Lasius niger queens can generally live for up to 15 years (although L. niger queens in captivity have reached 28 years).
Do flying ants damage homes?
What triggers flying ants?
The precise pattern of swarming varies from year to year. Swarming is triggered by the weather: the study found that ants only flew on days when it was warm, not windy and conditions had improved compared to the previous day. There is also anecdotal evidence that flying ant days often occur after some summer rain.
Do flying ants do damage to your house?
Flying ants can be quite a nuisance, but they are harmless and don’t cause structural damage to your home.
How do you tell a flying ant from a termite?
Appearance Differences Termites have straight antennae and wide bodies without pinched waists. They are characteristically black or dark brown. Swarmers, or flying termites, have clear front and back wings that are the same length.