Flying Ants: What They Mean and What to Do

One warm, still afternoon in summer, the pavement is suddenly crawling with winged insects and there are a few on your windowsill. Flying ants have arrived, and so have the questions.

Most of the time this is a short, harmless event. Occasionally it points to a nest closer to the building than you would like.

What a flying ant actually is

Flying ants are not a separate species. They are the winged males and young queens of ordinary ants, produced by a mature colony and released together so that they can mate away from their home nest.

The timing is usually triggered by warm, humid weather, often in mid to late summer, which is why neighbouring colonies tend to launch on the same day. Afterwards the males die quickly and any mated queens drop their wings and look for a place to start a new colony.

Why they sometimes end up indoors

Winged ants are drawn to light, so open windows, bright rooms in the evening and glass doors collect them. A few wandering in through a gap does not mean you have a nest inside.

The picture is different if they emerge from inside the house itself: from a skirting board, a window frame, a kitchen unit or a crack in a floor. That suggests a colony within the building structure or very close to it.

• A handful near a lit window in the evening: probably passing through
• Dozens appearing from one spot indoors: likely a nest nearby
• Large numbers over paving or a lawn outside: a normal mating flight

What to do on the day

Keep it simple. Close windows where practical, or turn off lights in rooms you are not using, and vacuum up the ants that are indoors. Empty the vacuum bag or canister outside afterwards.

Spraying every winged ant is a lot of effort for little gain, because the flight ends within hours or a day or two. Keep any products away from children and pets, and follow the label if you do use one.

Reasons to take it more seriously

Repeated flights in the same room, ants emerging from the same crack, or winged ants alongside a steady daytime trail of workers are worth following up. These are the situations where the nest may be within walls, under a slab or in a warm void.

Take a photograph if you can, as colour and size help with identification. The species matters because it affects what, if anything, needs to be done.

Is it termites?

People sometimes worry that winged insects in the home might be something more damaging. Winged ants have a narrow, pinched waist, elbowed antennae and front wings noticeably longer than the back pair, which sets them apart from other winged insects.

If you cannot tell what you have, an inspection by Essex Pest Solutions is a sensible next step rather than guessing.

Frequently asked questions