Everyone has seen them at least a few times; bugs that look like ants flying through the air. But are they flying ants or termites? Winged ants are easily confused with the more destructive termites, but there are a few ways to tell which kind of insect you’re dealing with, and why you’re suddenly seeing so many of them.
Wondering which kind of bug you’re dealing with? Read on for some insight from the Forest Pest Control team.
Where Do Flying Ants Come From?
Flying ants are the same as normal, non-flying ants; they’re just at a different stage of their life cycle. These ants, also called “swarmers” due to their tendency to fly in large groups, fly to nearby areas that look promising in hopes of starting a new colony. The reason they appear so suddenly is that large groups of ants will become mature and develop their wings at roughly the same time. This usually happens during summer or when warm weather begins.
If you notice a flying ant during colder weather, it’s probably a termite! Flying termites swarm during cooler weather, and can appear year-round. Termites are much more hazardous than flying ants due to their diet, and can quickly cause costly damage to your home or business. So, if you think you’ve seen a termite, get in touch with a termite exterminator as soon as you can.
Are Flying Ants Dangerous?
Generally, no. While some flying ants – carpenter ants in particular – will damage wood, they don’t eat it like termites do. They may damage your structure if they settle on it, but they aren’t as hazardous as termites. Flying ants of any species may be startling if they happen to fly into your face, but they won’t harm you.
"*" indicates required fields
How To Get Rid of Flying Ants in Central Florida
DIY pest control may be tempting as a cost-saving measure, but many ideas you might find online will either do nothing at all or make your problem worse. It’s best to get help from professionals as a first resort, rather than waste time and money on a DIY “solution.” However, there are a few things you can do that could mitigate your flying ant problem.
- Store food properly. Use airtight containers and clean up spills promptly. Even tiny crumbs could be a feast for ants.
- Keep up with yard maintenance. Rake leaves and remove yard debris where ants (and termites!) could nest.
- Finally, have regular professional inspections performed. Even if you don’t notice any pests, they could be lurking out of sight – and catching an infestation early will make it much easier to deal with.
Flying Ants vs. Termites
Flying ants are frequently confused with swarmer termites due to their similar appearance and habits. There are a few key differences, though, that could help you tell the difference.
- Diet. Termites eat wood; flying ants will burrow into wood, but they eat plant sugars, seeds, other bugs, and food crumbs – just like other ants. It can be hard to tell if a bug is eating the wood or just burrowing, though.
- Body shape. Up close, flying ants and termites look slightly different. Perhaps the most obvious difference is the fact that ants have “elbowed” antennae, but termite antennae are straight. Ant bodies are also narrower in the middle, while termite bodies are straighter.
- Wing shape. Both have two sets of wings, but in flying ants, the front pair is larger than the back; in termites, both sets of wings are the same size.
Fight Back Against Flying Ants With Help From Forest Pest Control
Whether you have a flying ant problem or a new termite infestation underway, the Forest Pest Control team is on hand to help whenever you need it. Whether you need a routine inspection or a full-scale extermination job, our team is the best choice for homes and businesses in the Central Florida area.
Give us a call to set up an appointment!
Back to Ant ExterminatorWhy Am I Seeing Flying Ants in Central Florida?
Serving Orange, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, & Osceola Counties