Get Rid of Winged Ants In Just A Few Simple Steps
August 5th, 2010 Posted in Ants & RoachesAs temperatures and humidity rise, so too does the winged ant population.
If you begin to see swarms of these ants, indoors or outdoors, be sure to take action quickly. If left untreated, these winged ants could settle down, causing the previously existing ant colonies to keep growing.
A bigger ant population means bigger problems in your home and garden.
Ready to learn more?
Winged Ants: Their Story
People often confuse termites with winged ants, although after close inspection, their differences become obvious. A quick read on winged ants will tell you everything you need to know about identifying these tiny, winged pests.
Winged ants are not a species all their own, but instead an unfertilized queen ant and her male suitors. After mating, the males simply die, while the queen ant loses her wings, settles down and starts a colony of her own. Winged ants are most commonly found in Pharaoh and Carpenter ant species.
The winged ants swarm before mating, allowing the queen to find the strongest male.
If you see one of these swarms, it is time to begin extermination to prevent future ant problems.
Easy Ant Extermination
Whether your problem is indoors or outdoors, it is important to treat it appropriately.
While a few stray winged ants (dead or alive) in your house is no cause for alarm, a larger swarm merits action. The same holds true for swarms outdoors, although keep in mind that ants living and breeding outdoors may find their way into your home.
Try the following to prevent and treat winged ant infestations:
Clean Up
Like most other household pests, ants want your food. Crumbs and other food matter left around the house will attract these bothersome insects inside.
Be sure to clean all dishes, spills and crumbs, as well as sealing any open containers inside your pantry.
The less food there is for ants to eat, the less they will want to come into your home.
Sealing up any possible entry points, such as cracks in walls, will also help to prevent ant infestation.
Vacuum
If ants have already found their way into your home, try sprinkling a little baby powder into the carpet and vacuum away. Be sure to seal and dispose of the bag immediately afterward.
This works in two ways. First, it gets rid of ants that are inside the carpet. They will suffocate and die while inside the bag. Second, the baby powder works to eliminate the scent of any ant trails, causing ants indoors to get lost and deterring ants outdoors to enter your home.
Placing baby powder near points of entry also deters ants from coming inside.
Spray, Spray, Spray
While chemical pesticides may be most familiar to you, they are a hazard for you, your family, pets and the environment.
Instead of spraying these toxic chemicals, consider using an organic ant killer like the one offered by EcoSMART.
First, locate the nest by following ant trails and checking possible points of entry. Spraying these open areas with an insecticide will prevent infestation. Once the nest is located, spray away with the natural ant killer.
Whether your ants are crawling or flying, a few quick sprays will stop them dead in their tracks.
The next time you see a swarm of ants, don’t be alarmed. Just take action and eliminate the problem before it gets out of hand.
These few simple tips will keep you happy and ant-free all season long.
8 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By Lisa Duncan on Aug 6, 2010
I had no idea that lacing baby powder near points of entry deters ants from coming inside. I’ve got a baby and I’ve got ants so guess what I’m doing tomorrow?
By Monique on Sep 3, 2010
I used the spray by my back door and behind my sink and haven’t seen an ant since.
I did however find a very large ant hill in my garden and wonder if the spray will be enough. Does anyone have any suggestions?
By Angelin Parker on Sep 6, 2010
I had a terrible termite infestation in my house a while back. I called in a few exterminators but none could seem to help me. Finally I found one who could. Pacific Coast Termite Inc. did a great job and have since helped me to prevent termites and other pests.
By Andrew E. on Feb 8, 2011
Monique, if you happen to come across this answer, please leave any ant colonies in your yard alone unless they pose an *actual* threat to you or your property. Many ants are actually beneficial insects that you want to keep in your garden. They can eat bugs that want to feast on the plants you work so hard to care for! The only real exception to this is if you are dealing with the red imported fire ant.
By Stacey W. on Jun 4, 2011
I currently have a BAD flying ant problem! Earlier this year we had small black carpenter ants, and now they are back, with wings! Just what I need! I have a 5 year old boy, a 17 month old boy as well as a cat, so heavy chemical are not an option for us. Earlier this year I tried a chemical that claimed to be safe for use around cats, but I was still nervous so I used GREAT caution. The product seemed to work on the small black ants but I haven’t had the same luck with the fliers! (I am 99% sure they are ants, not termites) I think I will try the baby powder, I mean what’s the harm? If nothing else my house will smell lovely! Let’s keep our fingers crossed!!! Good Luck to you all! Hope everyone has a pest free summer!
By Jaclyn jakubowski on Jun 24, 2011
We battle ants every day sugar and fire. They drive my husband crazy. Our children leave sugar and crumbs all over the place and we are constantly sweeping and cleaning but they seem to be faster.
By samuraishonan@blogspot.com on Jul 27, 2011
There were two kinds of ants entering my parents house. Those with wings and those without.
I called both suicide ants, as in 99% of the time, when you woke up in the morning, they were dead.
Why would they come in the house and die. Weird.
I corked everything out side and stopped most of the non-winged ants. The others are still there.
Help.
By Jayne Chandler on Sep 25, 2011
I uncovered a winged ant colony while cleaning out the area I wanted to set up my raised bed gardens. Wish I had seen this article then. I used landscape cloth to line the raised beds. haven’t seen very many of those ants again until now. I’ll have to get the spray. Will use it for the spiders in my basement studio, also.