So it becomes important to identify and differentiate between termites and flying ants so that you can use proper methods to get rid of these insects.
Flying ants in roof.
While most ants are wingless and flightless flying ants also known as alates or swarmers are still normal carpenter ants.
Flying ants may seem more formidable than their tiny ant counterparts.
Mating typically takes place within a single day.
The flying ants form various colonies then swarm around certain places in the area usually a place of slightly higher elevation such as a hill tree or roof.
Seeing a flying ant in your home or yard can be troubling but is by no means a reason to panic.
If you are struggling with the pests here are six simple tips for how you can get rid of flying ants.
Although summer is a common mating season for flying ants their sighting in winter are also not uncommon.
Hence during the mating season always screen your roof.
The males then die and the females disperse to establish colonies or in some rare cases.
Flying ants resurface every summer and can cause disruption and discomfort to homes and gardens.
How to differentiate between flying ants and termites.
Roof screening becomes a must in order to prevent entry of flying ants in house.
8 ways to differentiate between carpenter ants and termites.
If you suspect that you have ants entering your home via your roof or attic it s important to identify the source and stop the ants in their tracks.
Interestingly though flying ants also known as swarmers or alates aren t actually a different variety of ant at all.
These are the reproductives of the colony created by the queen and fed by the workers the reproductives go through their immature stages developing inside of the colony.
So if flying ants are seen in the home in the winter it is most likely that it is an ant that is living within the structure of your home and worse it is very likely that there is a carpenter ant nest within the structure.
Termites also have wings in some seasons and they almost look like flying ants.
But beyond that they can cause structural damage to your home and roof costing you money and causing major inconvenience.
Flying ants are sexually mature ants who are looking to start a new colony.
Ants can be a menace to deal with.
Natural ways to get rid of flying ants.
Flying ants have a pair of large front wings and a smaller pair of back wings while winged termites have two pair of same sized wings.
This is sometimes referred to as hilltopping.
They just only come out during certain times of the year to do work for their ant colonies.