4 Tips For Getting Rid Of Ants With Wings
Insects, in general, are rather off-putting, but there’s just something especially unnerving about an insect with wings. Unfortunately, as we exit winter and enter the warmer months, one of the most common and invasive insects will begin to sprout wings and take flight: ants.
Flying ants, otherwise known as swarmers or alates, are sexually matured ants that have grown wings so they can fly to nearby colonies during mating season. Throughout the mating season, ants will be expanding their colonies, rapidly increasing in numbers, and appearing in large groups known as swarms.
Homeowners should stay vigilant during this season, as the sight of flying ants in or around a home could be a sign that the ants are attempting to expand their colony onto the property. If you do happen to spot ants with wings around your property, use the following tips from Champion Termite and Pest Control, Inc. to avoid an infestation.
Contact our pest control company today to schedule a free pest inspection!
Set Up Traps & Bait
Ants are natural foragers with a propensity for investigating and retrieving anything sweet or sugary. Fortunately, the exploratory nature and insatiable sweet tooth of ants make them particularly susceptible to traps and bait. Liquid ant bait, glue traps, and ant killer are effective options for deterring flying ants and preventing an infestation. Certain traps can even eliminate an entire colony. For example, if you make a paste out of borax (which is toxic to ants) and sugar, you can create an alluring trap that flying ants will take back to their colonies and share. Shortly after the queen ant receives her share of the toxic sugar, she, and the rest of the colony, will die, as they cannot live without her. Just be sure to keep pets and children away from any poisonous traps you set around the house.
Use A Wet-Dry Vacuum
A wet-dry vacuum and dish soap can be used to combat swarming ants. All you have to do is fill the wet-dry vacuum tank with soapy water and then vacuum up the ants that have made their way into your home. This works well because dish soap sticks to and dehydrates bugs, ultimately killing them. So, by using soapy water, you ensure the flying ants you’ve vacuumed up will be dead and, thus, much easier to discard. This is one of the most time-efficient ways of dealing with groups of ants that have made their way into a home.
Block Potential Entry Points
You won’t have to worry about dispelling flying ants from your home if they never make it inside in the first place. One of the best ways to prevent a flying ant infestation is by blocking any potential entry points that pests could use to infiltrate your house. Check around your home’s windows and doors to ensure that the weatherstripping adequately seals their frames. If you discover a window or door frame with damaged or missing weatherstripping, be sure to replace it as soon as possible. Additionally, take some to inspect the outside of your home for any cracks, or holes ants could use to enter. Caulk up any potential entry points that are on the exterior of your home.
Schedule Pest Control Services
The most effective way to prevent an infestation of flying ants is by scheduling pest control services from an experienced pest exterminator at Champion Termite and Pest Control, Inc.! Our professional exterminators can inspect your property, eliminate pests, inform you of potential problems, and provide you with a comprehensive pest treatment plan for preventing future infestations. If you’re worried flying ants may be infesting your home, contact us immediately to schedule local pest control services!
