In the summer, there’s usually what’s known as flying ant day, when flying ants suddenly appear in large swarms.
This can be deeply irritating, as flying ants often fly near your face and land on sugary drinks or foods, causing contamination.
Because winged ants only appear in the UK in the summer months, many people wonder where they came from and why.
So, why do flying ants suddenly appear? As leading providers of ant control services across Maidstone and Kent, Pest-Tech is perfectly placed to answer this and all your other flying ant questions.
What Species Are Flying Ants?
Flying ants (also known as alates) aren’t actually a specific ant species. Instead, they are sexually mature fertile male ants and young queens.
They grow wings in preparation for breeding, and when the weather conditions are favourable, they fly and mate so they can breed.
While several species, including carpenter ants and red ants, become winged insects during mating season, most flying ants found in the UK are black garden ants (Lasius niger).
When Is Flying Ant Day?
Many people call the day when flying ants appear ‘flying ant day’, but there is no specific date. Instead, flying ant day is usually just a day when the hot and humid weather brings out winged ants in large swarms to breed.
This is often only noticed once a year, but it can occur multiple times as different colonies breed. Male ants die shortly after breeding, while the fertilised queen ants fly a short distance, chew off their wings and burrow underground to start a new colony.
If you notice discarded wings around your property, this could be an early sign of an ant infestation, and you should watch out for ant nests and trails of ants. To reduce the chances of ants getting inside your property, seal cracks in the exterior, make sure you keep your space tidy and store dried foods in sealed containers to avoid giving ants an easily-accessible food source.
Why Do Flying Ants Swarm?
The main issue most people have with flying ants is that they often appear in large numbers. The reason for this is because the whole purpose of gaining wings is reproduction, and the more ants there are flying, the higher the chance of the colony’s continued success.
Also, there is safety in numbers, and swarms of flying ants are better protected from potential predators, such as birds, toads and spiders.
Are Flying Ants Dangerous?
While flying ants aren’t typically considered dangerous to humans, they can still be a nuisance. Flying ants can distract you, especially if you’re out walking or trying to play sports while they swarm.
Some species, such as carpenter ants and red ants, can bite humans, which can cause skin irritation and even infections in some cases.
Flying carpenter ants can also cause structural issues if they build nests inside wooden furniture or structural supports, such as beams, inside your property.
If flying ants fly near food, they can contaminate it, causing a health and safety issue. This is particularly true for businesses, as flying ants and other winged insects can breach food safety regulations and cause site shutdowns.
How To Get Rid Of Flying Ants
If you notice ants crawling around your property, then the chances are you have an ant infestation. A nearby ant colony will mean that flying ants will appear during the summer months, so it pays to get rid of them as soon as possible.
DIY ant treatments are ineffective, and cause issues for children, pets and non-target insect species in the local habitat.
Instead, the best solution is to work with professional pest controllers like Pest-Tech. Our team are RSPH Level 2 certified, with access to ant control solutions that aren’t available to the general public.
Combine our knowledge of how to get rid of ants, ant diets and ant behaviour with these cutting-edge ant treatments and you can rest assured that your ant problem will soon be solved.
Alongside ants, we also have the skills to provide domestic and commercial pest control for other insect pests, including bees, wasps, moths, carpet beetles, silverfish, cockroaches or other garden pests, such as ladybirds or spiders.
To book expert ant control services for your Kent-based home or business premises, contact us on 01892 871 008 or by emailing office@nightshiftpestcontrol.co.uk.