How to Get Rid of Flying Ants
15 Simple Ways to Kill Flying Ants Effectively
Want to get rid of flying ants? So in this post you’ll discover 15 easy ways to get rid of flying ants. Read now to learn how to get rid of flying ants in minutes.
Flying ants?
If you’ve ever dealt with them, you know exactly what I am talking about. You also know that it can seem impossible trying to figure out how to get rid of flying ants.
There is hope! Follow this simple guide to understand the different tactics you can use to be free of these annoying pests.
Understanding Them
Before moving on to discuss methods on how to get rid of flying ants in the house, let’s determine if flying ants are truly the problem.
What Are Flying Ants?
The majority of ants don’t have wings. During the summer, it isn’t uncommon however to see swarms of flying ants.
These ants featuring wings are called alates, reproductive or swarmers. They can be identified by the elbowed antennae and thin waists which constrict at the thorax.
Their hind wings are also smaller than the front wings. They tend to look a lot like termites, so it can be tough to tell the difference between the two.
The easiest way to tell the difference is that winged termites feature straight antennae, wings that are equal in length and broad waists.
Keep in mind that flying ants are just regular species of ants that are currently mating. They can actually refer to a wide variety of ant species.
Other Facts About Flying Ants
Here are some other facts you might not have known about flying ants:
- Females are larger than males
- Flying ants swarm to mate
- Many flying ants are actually carpenter ants that are mating
- Swarmers only live for a short time. After the flight, females will bite off their wings and start a colony on the ground.
- Flying ants indicate an infestation in the home or area and should be taken seriously.
How to Get Rid of Flying Ants Naturally
A common question when facing this dilemma is how to get rid of flying ants naturally. Thankfully, there are many solutions you can try.
Many of these options are going to be good when you are wondering how do you get rid of flying ants outside as well.
1. Boric Acid & Honey Bait
Honey is a known ant attractant and when mixed with boric acid it can quickly kill the pests. Create bait where the honey will lure the baits in then ingest the boric acid.
Once they’ve eaten of the boric acid, they will take it back to the nest and share with the entire colony. Just keep in mind that boric acid is toxic to children and pets if ingested.
2. Essential Oils
There are several essential oils that are said to kill or repel flying ants:
- Peppermint Oil – mix with 3 parts of water, one part dish liquid and a few drops of oil in a spray bottle. Spray on the flying ants to repel them.
- Cinnamon Leaf Oil – Mix ¼ to ½ teaspoon cinnamon leaf oil with a cup of water into a spray bottle. Use this to repel them when they fly near you.
- Other Oils – Several other oils have been used including tea tree oil, lavender oil, lemon oil or cedarwood.
3. Vinegar
The acid in vinegar effectively kills flying ants. Make a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar.
Place it in a spray bottle and apply to the ants while flying or directly to the nest.
4. Dish Soap
Dish soap isn’t just for washing dishes anymore!
The dish soap in your kitchen has a way of fighting flying ants. The soap tends to stick to the wings and prevents them from flying.
Simply mix one-part dish soap with three parts water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on flying ants for instant effects.
5. Baking Soda & Sugar
Make a trap similar to the honey and boric acid trick. Baking soda is completely safe for humans but deadly to the ant colony.
The sugar attracts the ant to the baking soda and they ingest it. Then, they take it back to the nest and share with the entire family.
6. Mint
Mint acts as a natural repellent as well. This method will require a little extra work and doesn’t kill the entire colony.
Create a powder from dried mint leaves. Put this in the area where you’ve noticed the ants are nesting.
This will move the ants from that place and over time, they will disappear. On top of that, everything will smell good.
How to Get Rid of Flying Ants in the House
When you want to learn how to get rid of flying ants in the house, your first step is to look for nests.
They like to dwell in damp and moist environments. Some of the best places to look are:
- Wooden furniture
- Cabinets
- Wooden structures
- Rafters under the roof
- Porch
- Windowsill
It is also wise to inspect any areas that are leaking water. This is important in the bathroom or near the kitchen sink.
If you don’t find a nest and only see a few flying ants, you shouldn’t need to spend a lot of time worrying about extermination. A simple aerosol spray or home remedy should be enough to fix the issue.
If you happen to come across a nest, you have a serious issue! You must work diligently to get rid of flying ants immediately before you have a full-blown infestation.
How to Get Rid of Flying Ants Outside
If you are able to find the colony outside, then there are simple answers to how to get rid of flying ants outside.
1. Track Down the Colony
In case you haven’t found it yet, you need to follow the ants back to their nest for complete extermination. The colony of flying ants will be a family of wingless ants.
That’s due to the fact that they only have wings during mating. While it seems practical to just treat the ants that are flying, that won’t solve your problem.
2. Use a Pesticide
Ant baits and other commercial products are great for destroying the colony. Just look for any formulation that is geared toward killing ants.
Make sure that you follow the directions on the product carefully so it doesn’t become dangerous to you or your family.
3. Boiling Water
Pour scalding hot, boiling water over the anthill. Those who are hit with it will die, while the others will leave the colony looking for a safer home.
You could even use a flowerpot to make this method more effective.
- Place the flowerpot upside down over the ant hill.
- Pour the hot water through the drain hole of the flowerpot
- This will trap the ants during the procedure.
- It also keeps you safe from any bites or stings.
How to Get Rid of Flying Carpenter Ants
If you find that you are facing a specific variety of flying ants, I also have solutions on how to get rid of flying carpenter ants.
Carpenter ants tend to nest inside of the rotting, damp or wet wood. There are times when they can be found in dry wood, but it isn’t as likely.
Your first step is to remove the wood and repair the issue. This helps to avoid further infestations.
Then, choose an insecticide that will kill ants specifically for the indoors. Some options include:
1. Insecticidal Dust
This will be labeled for use against carpenter ants and is safe to use indoors. The dust can be injected directly into the area where the ants are housed.
If you have trouble getting to the nest, you can drill small holes in the wall. This is one of the best solutions on how to get rid of ants in walls.
2. Baits
Another possibility is the use of ant baits. While this option is slower acting, it can be safe and effective over time.
The foraging ants will consume the bait and take it back to the remainder of the colony. Once it is shared with others, the colony will be destroyed.
Be sure that you choose the appropriate bait for carpenter ants and always follow the label’s instructions.
3. Ant Sprays
Commercial insecticide sprays will have no impact on the nest itself. They are only designed to kill ants that you can see.
If they are a nuisance and you want to get rid of the ones in your home immediately, ant sprays are a good option.
How to Get Rid of Flying Ants in Your House
If you want to know how to get rid of flying ants in your house, then it might be time to turn to commercial pest control products. Remember that flying ants are just other species of ants during mating season, so many of the regular ant products will work.
1. Ant Baits
Baits are going to lure ants out from hiding so you can bring an end to them once and for all. Liquid baits are a good option for the indoors or outdoors.
They also seem to attract a lot of ant species. Baits are simple to use and generally come prepackaged.
First, the ant consumes the bait you lay out. Then, their digestive system holds the poison in a secure location.
Once the ant has arrived back at the nest, the other ants, including the queen, will consume the bait. Now that they’ve enjoyed their yummy dinner, they will all die thanks to the little carrier.
Baits are a generally safe way to destroy ants while protecting children and pets. Just be sure to read all the instructions carefully.
2. Ant Sprays
The abundance of ant sprays on the market makes it easy to think they are the best solution. They are truly only effective against a few ants you can see.
This is only a temporary solution and will not solve the overall issue. There is no impact to the nest when using an aerosol spray.
If you are about to have company or need to get rid of a few ants quickly, a spray is your best bet. Sometimes, the spray will also continue to repel future ants from arriving.
Another great use for ant spray is when you are cooking and faced with flying ants. Just keep in mind that you don’t want to spray the pesticides near the food.
In addition, some people find success spraying ant killers directly into the trash can. This prevents ants from invading the trash.
As you can expect, sprays will contain chemical products. There could be some fumes involved and you will need to use them in a ventilated area.
In addition, they should always be used with caution when you have pets or children.
3. Gels
A gel bait will use a sugary substance to attract ants. Use the syringe that comes with the package and apply the gel anywhere you see ants entering.
This is a great way to treat the line of ants you spot traveling around your property. Pair this option with a clean home for the best chance of success.
Most syringe applications are childproof. Look for an option that features safety controls for further protection.
4. Granular Ant Bait
Granular ant baits can target the nest while protecting the house. They are slow acting and tend to be made of naturally occurring fungus.
This biodegradable fungus is something that most species of ant love to eat, so they will naturally be attracted to them.
Like with other baits, the ant carries this poison back to their home. They are more than happy to share it with the others.
The entire process could take as little as 24 hours to start working. It is important that you choose the proper granular bait for the type of ant you are trying to kill.
Many people find that granular baits are a good choice for indoor extermination as well as outdoors.
5. Professional Pest Control
Don’t rule out the need for professional pest control. Calling your local pest control company might be something that needs to be done when other options aren’t working.
You might even be able to receive a free consultation where they can offer up some further ideas.
How to Get Rid of Flying Ants in Pool
If you find yourself invaded with pests while swimming, it is time to learn how to get rid of flying ants in the pool.
I wish I had more advice for you with this situation, but short of finding the nest and killing the ants, there is little that can be done around the pool.
Some people will find hundreds if not thousands of these little creatures inside their swimming pool at any given time.
That’s a good time to get cleaning with the nets! In addition, make sure your filters are working well.
Thankfully, flying ants tend to only be an issue for a short season, so it shouldn’t last long.
When You Begin Using Ant Killers
Be sure that you always follow the directions given to you on the package. In addition to that, here are some other suggestions to help with the fight.
- Search diligently to learn about the type of ant you are fighting.
- Follow the trails to attempt to find the nest.
- Avoid spraying ants as long as possible. This won’t solve the long-term issue.
- Use baits wherever possible. This is your best chance of killing the queen and other ant colony members. It can also be used for treatments indoors or outdoors.
- While using bait products, avoid cleaning more than necessary. By mopping the floor, you eliminate the ant’s odor trails which lead the ants back to the colony.
- Have patience. It can take up to several weeks before an ant colony will die. You will find this to be especially true when dealing with a large ant colony.
- Take care of outdoor nests promptly. This is going to be your best line of defense against infestations.
- Keep the house clean once the infestation is gone, you must keep your house clean to avoid future issues.
- Many of the ant killing products will kill other pests as well. If you find yourself battling multiple types of insects at once, consider using a multi-purpose product.
6 Ways to Keep Your House Free of Flying Ants
Prevention is your best line of defense when you need to battle flying ants. By working hard to maintain a clean environment, you are protecting yourself against further infestations.
Here are some cleaning tips to follow daily:
1. Clean and Dry Your Kitchen Sink
Bugs are generally attracted to food debris and a dirty sink is just begging for them to come enjoy themselves. Cleaning out the water is also important because it could have food debris inside of it.
Don’t ever leave dishes to sit in the sink overnight. Once they are done, wipe down the entire sink to ensure nothing is left over.
If you use bleach, pour some down the drain whenever you are done. This helps to keep the smell of rotting food away which tends to attract insects.
2. Clean Those Countertops
Bleach is also helpful for wiping down countertops. Dirty countertops are a surefire way to find yourself with a pest infestation.
Bleach not only sanitizes but it breaks down the pheromones which ants use to follow one another.
3. Clean the Kitchen Floor Thoroughly
It is vital to the well-being of your home that you sweep and mop the floor every night. You will find that this is even truer during those warm, summer months.
I can’t recommend the use of bleach enough, especially for jobs such as this. Bleach will ensure that no trace of food or pheromone trail is left for the ants to enjoy.
4. Vacuum Your Floors
Wherever food is consumed, you have the possibility of pests. These areas should be vacuumed often to prevent infestations from occurring.
All food has the potential to attract ants, not just sweets. They will search for bread crumbs, vegetables and meats as well.
That means anytime you’ve eaten, you should be sure to vacuum the floor.
Did you know that ants will look for the remains of other insects? These too can be found in your carpet if not cleaned properly.
5. Clean the Garbage Can
If you aren’t taking out the garbage often, you are at risk. Often the garbage bag can end up punctured or with a hole.
When this occurs, liquid and food debris can drip out inside the can. This smell is like heaven to ants and they will come from near and far to enjoy.
Your best bet is to use some heavy-duty trash bags that don’t tear easily. There are even some that feature baking soda in the formulation to keep them deodorized.
When you take the trash out, inspect the can carefully. If it needs to be cleaned, don’t wait to accomplish this task.
The use of bleach is highly recommended to kill germs and fight odors in the trash can.
6. Household Maintenance
Cleaning the house isn’t the only way to prevent ants from visiting. Doing regular maintenance tasks is also essential.
Older homes will attract ants more than new homes and this is often due to cracks. Follow these steps to set yourself up for success.
- Ensure that your foundation is sealed. Ants love to enter the home through any crack they can find.
- Seal the cracks that are found around the windows or doors.
- Replace any decaying wood frames or shingles. This is especially true when dealing with carpenter ants.
- Replace or repair the damaged, old roof.
- Take the time to spray your foundation with a quality pesticide. This will be a great prevention method as well as protect against any that you are currently fighting.
- Seal up any cracks around the pipes of your home.
In Conclusion
You should no longer be wondering how to get rid of flying ants. We’ve given you many options that will work in any situation.
Take the time to determine the best course of action for your family. There are tons of ants to battle and you are going to need the best products you can get.
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