How to Get Rid of Flying Ants

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There’s something especially off-putting about an ant that has sprouted wings. Learn how to identify, exterminate, and deter flying ants in your home.

Flying ants may seem more formidable than their terrestrial counterparts. Interestingly, though, flying ants—also known as swarmers or alates—aren’t actually a specific variety of ant at all. Flying ants can be any of a number of species that grow wings for the mating season. And, while different types of ants have different mating seasons, you’ll most likely find swarmers in your home in times of high humidity or following heavy rains. Most species of ants live just a few days after they sprout wings—enough time to ensure their line of succession. Nevertheless, the short-lived pests can still cause distress.

The good news: While they’re not fun house guests, flying ants are not nearly as destructive as termites and are completely manageable. As soon as you’ve identified your infestation, prepare to get rid of flying ants on your property with the following tools and techniques.

How to Identify Flying Ants

It can be difficult to identify a flying ant because they look so similar to other winged insects. With 15,7000 species of ants on the planet, there’s a lot of variety in appearance. 

Flying Ants vs. Termites

At first glance, flying ants are often mistaken for termites, as both pests have four wings and antennae. Upon closer inspection, though, you’ll see that termite wings are all the same size, whereas the front wings of flying ants are usually larger than the back wings. Plus, swarmers have the pinched waists typical to ants, and they have elbowed antennae, unlike the straight ones of termites.

Why are there flying ants in my home?

Like most insects, flying ants are looking for food, water, and shelter. If your home looks inviting to them for any of these reasons, you may have a problem on your hands. Open containers of food or trash bags, food crumbs on the kitchen floor or countertop, or leaky plumbing can attract bugs like flying ants to your home. 

“You’ll typically start to see ants invade homes when there is a dramatic weather shift outside,” says Kyle Selbach of All U Need Pest Control, a nationwide pest control company. He added that ants “like a medium-moisture environment, which is why you will typically start to find them in your bathroom or kitchen first.”