With summer temperatures soaring, homeowners are reporting increased encounters with flying ants, prompting advice from pest control experts on how to manage these seasonal swarms.
Stephen Wales of Bespoke Pest Control explains that flying ants are the reproductive stage of the common black garden ant. The larger ants are the queens, and the smaller ones are males, which mate on the wing before the males die shortly after. These swarms are a natural part of the ant life cycle, occurring when queens and males leave their nests to establish new colonies.
Hot weather and extended warm seasons, like those experienced recently, can prolong the ants' active period outside their nests. While these swarms are typically short-lived, lasting only a day or two, and often confined to a garden for a few hours, they can become a nuisance for homeowners. Unlike some other ant species, flying ants do not bite.
Ants Entering Homes
While ants primarily burrow outdoors, they can also infiltrate buildings through small gaps. They are often attracted to homes by the need for water, making kitchens and bathrooms common areas for sightings. Ants employ a scouting system, where one ant finds a resource and leaves a pheromone trail for others to follow, which can lead to swarms congregating inside, even on closed windows if a nest is nearby, such as in a pot plant.
Managing Ant Invasions
Preventing flying ants from briefly swarming in gardens is not feasible, and efforts to deter those that enter homes may prove difficult. Sprays and powders are generally ineffective, and bait is often ignored by these reproductive ants.
According to Wales, the most effective method for ants that have entered a home is to turn off the lights, as they are attracted to light sources. Opening windows and doors can encourage them to leave, as they prefer to be outdoors. Ants that die inside should be vacuumed up and the bag disposed of in an outdoor bin.
Dealing with established ant nests requires a different approach. Nests located in undisturbed areas like flower pots, under patios, or in debris piles can persist for many years if not addressed. For nests not causing immediate damage, leaving them undisturbed is an option. However, nests close to a house may lead to more frequent indoor invasions. In such cases, ant gels, which are slow-acting baits taken back to the nest, are recommended for eradication.
While pouring boiling water on ants outside can kill them, it may also damage surrounding grass and plants.
Understanding 'Flying Ant Day'
The phenomenon often referred to as 'Flying Ant Day' is a real event where millions of ants swarm. This day does not have a fixed date and can vary geographically based on climate. It typically occurs between mid-July and early August, but can happen earlier during heatwaves. Wales theorizes that these swarms may coincide with rainfall, when the ground is softer and easier for ants to burrow into.