Ants With Wings

Most people don’t think of ants when considering the flying insects that might invade the home. Ants are more commonly seen crawling along the ground or walls looking for food. Winged ants emerge only at mating time. It’s handy to understand what winged ants are doing and how you should handle them. If you find that the winged ants indicate an infestation in your home, there are ant control solutions that you can pursue to prevent further problems.

Most ants are not winged creatures, however some ants can have wings. These flying ants are referred to as alates. However, it is only a very particular subset of the population that is winged, and these ants will appear only for a short period of time. To make sure what you’re looking at is truly an ant, watch for these characteristics:

• Three distinct body parts with a constricted area between the abdomen and thorax.
• Elbowed antennae.
• Six legs.

If the insect you’re examining doesn’t have these key characteristics, it’s not an ant. If you do have flying ants, read on to learn more about what this means.

What Kinds of Ants Have Wings?

The types of ants with wings are those that reproduce. Most ants are sterile and are therefore incapable of reproduction. Worker ants are always sterile females. Queen ants are the only females that can reproduce. Drones are male ants that exist solely to fertilize the queens. The males typically die within two weeks of mating, while the fertilized queens seek out a nesting site. Once the queen has found an appropriate place to nest, she will drop her wings. The wings then become a food source for the new queen as she starts her colony.

When Should You See Ants With Wings?

Ants typically go on their mating flights in late spring or early summer. You may see swarms of winged ants at this time taking their nuptial flights. These ants find protection in numbers. It’s more difficult for a predator to take out a whole swarm of ants than to catch just a few, which is why you typically see winged ants in groups.

You’ll often see several swarms at the same time because ants look for specific conditions before they take to their mating flights. They want warm temperatures, bright sunlight, low winds, and high humidity. The humidity factor is typically satisfied after three to five days of rain. When the rain lets up and the sun comes out, ants are likely to swarm from nests in the area.

If you see just a few ants with wings in spring or summer, it probably means that one of the reproductive ants was separated from the group. This usually isn’t a problem. A lone male ant in the home may die before finding a mate. A lone queen is less likely to find a suitable nesting place in your home than outside.

If you see ants with wings in winter, this is a bigger problem. Ants won’t typically go on mating flights at this time of year unless they’re nesting indoors. Winged ants in cold weather months are a prime indicator of an infestation that’s taken root in your home.

Where Do Ants Swarm?

Though ants usually swarm somewhere near their nests, they will fly a short distance to find popular gathering places. Ants like to swarm around tall landmarks like trees, chimneys, towers, or bushes. This behavior is known as hilltopping. Ants will often return to the same spot year after year. Ant enthusiasts may gather to witness the hilltopping phenomenon as the winged ants emerge.

Winged Ants vs. Termites

Both ants and termites have wings when they’re mating. One is often mistaken for the other. Both can present a hazard in your home, so it’s important to know what you’re dealing with. The primary differences between ants and termites are that:

• Termites have straight antennae while an ant’s antennae are bent.
• Termites have a straight waist while an ant’s body is pinched in the middle.
• The wings on termites are the same size, while ants’ wing pairs are different sizes.

Are Winged Ants a Danger?

Winged ants aren’t themselves dangerous. If the species as a whole is equipped to bite or sting, the winged ants won’t bite or sting either. Species like fire ants, which do sting, can still sting while on their mating flights. However, it’s unlikely that any ant will attack while it’s swarming. These ants are preoccupied with finding a mate and generally will not sting or bite unless severely provoked.

What to Do About Ants With Wings

If you see a large number of ants with wings in your home, this is a sign that you probably have a nest either in your home or nearby. These winged ants are looking to expand their colonies, so you should be alert to the possibility of a new or worsening infestation if they choose to nest in or near the house.

If you have winged ants in the home, you should consider calling an exterminator. A professional can help you identify the species in your home and locate the nest. You can also take preventative measures at this stage to keep new queens from nesting in your home if a colony is not yet present. Consider using deterrents like lemon juice, cinnamon, mint, and cayenne pepper around entry points to discourage ants from coming into the home.

It’s important to take a proactive response to winged ants, especially when they’re in the house. An ant infestation is always easier to deal with in its early stages. You can easily kill a new queen, but it’s more difficult to get rid of a well-established nest. Not all ant species swarm, but carpenter ants are one of the notable species that do. Since carpenter ants are particularly destructive to the home, you may want to book an inspection with an exterminator if you suspect any kind of problem.