Flying Ants? Are Those Even Real?

Many people mistake flying ants for swarming termites in the spring and summer. Flying ants are real and have similar traits to termites. Both expand their colonies by releasing winged insects to find suitable mates and establish a new colony. The key difference between ants and termites is that ant males die after mating with the females, whereas termite males do not, and they move into the new colony with the new queen. Both termites and ants shed their wings after mating.

Unlike termites, most species of flying ants do not pose a problem for homeowners, other than being an annoyance. They can fly into open car windows, get smashed on windshields, and have even been known to block up cars’ radiators. Plus, they can land in your hair and on your clothing, so it is possible to track them indoors.

Because of the large number of swarms, people are often concerned all these flying insects are going to mate and establish colonies near their homes. However, in reality, only a small percentage of the females survive long enough to establish a new colony. In addition, the majority of the flying ants are males. Even if they do not find a female to mate with, they still die within a few days.

The main thing to remember is that the ants were already there in an established colony before they grew wings and flew away. The only time you need to be concerned is in cases where you notice flying ants emerging from baseboards, in between cracks in the foundation, or other such areas within the home. When swarming ants start appearing in large numbers inside the home, this often indicates there is an ant colony somewhere within the home, like in the crawl space under the home.

You will want to have your home treated by a professional home pest control company, like us: MightyMite Termite. We offer a free inspection to help determine the location of ant colonies, as well as look for signs of other pests, including termites. Call us at 408-377-3761 today to schedule your home inspection!