Why You’re Seeing Flying Ants Inside Your Home

Serving Broward County and Palm Beach County

Ants are common foragers, constantly looking for food and moisture. If they’re showing up in your home, it usually means they’ve found something they like. But spotting ants with wings? That’s a whole different issue. Let’s break down what it really means when winged ants start appearing indoors.

What Exactly Are Flying Ants?

Flying ants aren’t a distinct species of ant, they’re reproductive members known as alates. These winged ants leave the nest during mating season to establish new colonies. When you see them inside, it often means your property has caught their attention as a possible nesting location.

How to Handle a Flying Ant Problem

If flying ants have made their way into your home, here are a few steps you can take:

• Treat the ants directly: A targeted ant treatment can help reduce the current swarm. You might not eliminate every one of them, but reducing their numbers early on can limit future issues.
• Keep watch on the area: A swarm indoors typically means there’s a nearby colony, or one forming soon. Stay alert and routinely check for activity throughout the following days.
• Close up entry points: Seal cracks, gaps, and crevices around doors, windows, and foundations to make your home harder to access.
• Cut off food and water: Store food in airtight containers, clean surfaces frequently, and fix leaks that could serve as water sources.
• Set ant bait traps: Position baits near areas where ants enter. They’ll carry the bait back to the nest, helping reduce the population at the source.

Types of Winged Ants Found in Florida

Florida’s warm climate makes it a hotspot for ant activity, and several winged species can be spotted during their mating flights. Here are some of the most common:

• Carpenter Ants: These ants tunnel through wood to build nests. While they don’t consume wood like termites, the damage from their excavation can still affect the structure of your home.
• Fire Ants: Known for their fiery stings and aggressive behavior, fire ants with wings are a warning sign that a new colony may be forming nearby.
• Pharaoh Ants: Small and quick to spread, Pharaoh ants are particularly tough to control and notorious for infesting buildings quickly.
• Crazy Ants: Unpredictable in movement and difficult to manage, these ants live up to their name and can be relentless in their spread.

Are Flying Ants a Big Deal?

Winged ants aren’t looking to bite or sting you, they’re simply trying to mate and build new nests. Still, their presence indoors shouldn’t be taken lightly. A swarm of flying ants often signals the beginning of an infestation. If you notice an overwhelming amount of ants on your property, look into our ant removal services, for stress-free ant control.

Even more concerning is the possibility that those insects aren’t ants at all, they could be flying termites. Termites can quietly destroy wooden structures from the inside out. Confusing the two could lead to delays in addressing a much more serious issue.

How to Distinguish Between Termites and Flying Ants

Knowing the differences between these two winged invaders can save you time and money. If there’s even a chance you’re dealing with termites, you need to act fast.

Here are three simple ways to tell them apart:

• Waist: Ants have a defined, pinched waist. Termites have a broad, straight body without a narrow waist.
• Wings: Ants have front wings that are larger than the back ones. Termite wings are all the same size.
• Antennae: Ants have antennae with a bend in the middle. Termite antennae are straight and bead-like.

Expert Services for Ants and Termites

A sudden appearance of flying ants can be the first sign of a bigger pest issue. Whether it’s a developing ant colony, or something more destructive like termites, acting fast is the best defense.

At Petri Pest Control, we’re here to help with thorough ant and termite treatments, tailored to your situation. Get in touch with us today for a free quote, we’ll help you protect your home before the infestation grows.