Flying ants live in colonies, and when they invade a space, they are present in their hundreds. Their presence in homes can cause problems, especially during the breeding season. Most often, flying ants appear in summer or during periods of high humidity.
In search of food and quiet places to reproduce, flying ants can quickly become a real nuisance.
But why are they so attracted to home interiors? Are they dangerous? Or how do you get rid of them? These are just some of the questions that will be answered in this dedicated article.
Let’s get started!
What is a flying ant?
Few people know it, but a flying ant is a lambda ant with wings. Flying ants are in no way dangerous. In fact, flying ants are not a specific species. Flying ants only have wings for a short period of time, corresponding to the breeding season. During this period, queens and males mate by flying, a phenomenon known as nuptial flight.
Flying ants will do anything to get into a house, and are capable of getting into any small hole.
The best time to breed is usually in late July and August. At this time, the future queens fly off to reproduce and form a new colony. Their objective: to find a sheltered spot near a source of water and food, where they can lay their eggs.
Once there, the flying ants land on the ground and pull off their wings, reverting to “conventional” ants.
What attracts flying ants?
Knowing what attracts flying ants will help you to avoid having them in your home, and to take a few precautions to keep them out. The main attraction for flying ants is undeniably food. Wet areas such as the bathroom can also attract flying ants.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid attracting these pests to your home:
- Always close the dustbin lid tightly: this is the key to avoiding attracting flying flies to the kitchen. The dustbin is one of the favourite food sources for flying ants.
- Prevent dirty dishes from piling up in the kitchen: here again, flying ants may see this as a source of food and congregate in the kitchen.
- Don’t leave food out in the open in the kitchen: as soon as they sense that food is within their reach, flying ants won’t hesitate to invade the space. Food scraps should be stored in airtight containers as far as possible.
- Always keep floors and worktops clean: a small bread crumb could attract flying ants. This is why it’s important to keep kitchen and dining room surfaces extremely clean during periods of pest infestation.
- Check cupboards to ensure that all food supplies are tightly closed, and that no trace of food, however minute, can attract ants.
In addition to these tips, there are a few simple things you can do to keep ants away from your home:
- Avoid keeping pets’ bowls inside the house.
- Block all potential access points to the house, such as cracks, skirting boards, small holes, etc.
Why is there an ant invasion in the kitchen?
Ants are opportunists when it comes to finding food and water. That’s why they often invade the kitchen, a place where food scraps, crumbs and waste are abundant. On top of this, the kitchen is often a warm and humid place, creating an ideal environment for ants to reproduce. To avoid an invasion, it’s crucial to maintain impeccable cleanliness. Store food in airtight containers and clean surfaces regularly to remove all traces of food. By taking these precautions, you’ll greatly reduce the risk of ants invading your kitchen space.
How do you find an ant nest?
To effectively eradicate an ant invasion, it’s essential to locate the nest. Ants generally follow well-defined paths between their nest and food sources. By carefully observing these routes, you can trace them back to their point of origin. Ant nests can hide in a variety of places: in walls, under floors, in cupboards or even outside, near the house. Once you’ve located the nest, you can take targeted measures to eliminate the source of the invasion and get rid of the ants more effectively.
What to do about flying ants?
If flying ants have already invaded your home, it’s time to go on the offensive! Here are several ways to get rid of flying ants in your home.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is a highly effective natural solution for eliminating flying ants. This natural insecticide works by dehydrating the ants, resulting in their death. It is important to observe the proper precautions when applying it, to ensure the safety of all house occupants.
White vinegar
Spraying lightly diluted household white vinegar in all access areas of the house will keep flying ants away.
Adhesive tapes
Fly-tight tape is also a good way to get rid of flying ants. It’s a rather unsightly trick, but it works very well to get rid of as many insects as possible.
A DIY trap
You can make a very simple trap for flying ants by leaving an uncorked bottle filled with syrup or beer. The liquid should be replaced every day for optimum effectiveness.
Eucalyptus decoction
Boiling 100 grams of eucalyptus leaves for 15 minutes in 3 liters of water will produce a sprayable solution to keep flying ants out of your home.
Incense sticks
Incense soaked in a few drops of cinnamon essential oil placed in cracks, doors and windows will keep flying ants away from the house.
Essential oils
Several essential oils can be used as sprays or diffusers to keep ants out of the house. These include geranium essential oil, peppermint essential oil, which is an effective natural repellent for ants, including flying ants, when sprayed in areas frequented by these insects or combined with vinegar, and lavender essential oil.
Vacuuming
If swarms of ants are present in the home, vacuuming can be used to reduce the number of insects. This won’t get rid of the ants for good, but it will reduce the population.
What to do in the event of a serious infestation of flying ants?
If you’ve reached the stage where ants have already invaded your home, it’s time to switch to more powerful insecticide solutions to get rid of them. The products most frequently indicated in this case are the following: You can also consider grandmother’s remedies as natural alternatives. These ecological and affordable tricks, often taken from the kitchen or bathroom, are effective in combating infestations while respecting the environment.
Anti-insect fumigants
Anti-insect fumigants are devices that release a smoke capable of instantly killing any flying ants that may have found their way into the house. An unnatural but radical method.
Anti-ant gels
Anti-ant gels are poisons that exterminate flying ants when ingested. The easiest way to do this is to use them as traps in areas popular with ants, such as the kitchen.
Natural insecticides
Natural insecticides are just as effective as conventional chemical insecticides. This is an alternative you need to know about.
Here’s how to get rid of flying ants in your home!
