Late summer is the most common time to see swarms of flying ants outside, but what are they doing in your home?
Pest management services are skilled and on standby at this time as they get many calls to battle these bugs that are driving homeowners (and renters) crazy.
Are you experiencing a flying ant problem? Check out some of these helpful tips on DIY pest control.
What Is a Flying Ant?
Are they dangerous to your health or your home? That is really what we are wondering.
No, they will not start destroying the wood in your home like carpenter ants, carpenter bees, or termites. So, don’t worry about that.
The only thing that is in danger is the food supply in your house (mainly sweet sugary treats.) Also, your sanity because an invasion of flying ants is quite annoying.
Flying ants are ants with wings, and that is what they look like. Ant bodies with clear- whiteish wings.
Where Did They Come From?
A group of flying ants is common because when they travel in groups they feel that they are better protected from predators. Experts say that you might see large groups of flying ants when they are getting ready to fly off and start a new colony.
Especially common in spring and summer, flying ants may be attracted by the scent of something sweet inside or outside of your house. It could also be because of something the neighbor has going on such as fruit trees or beehives.
At the onset of hot and humid weather is when flying ant invasions will most likely occur. They are on a mission to find mates but stop off to find food on their way.
When to Call for Professional Help
The best thing to do when you notice that you have a flying ant problem is to hop on your computer or mobile device and type “pest control near me” into the search bar.
What a professional pest control service does is assess the problem, and make a plan to address the flying ants from the inside out. Within a few visits, or if you are lucky, the first one, your ant problem will be a thing of the past.
The strategic use of sprays around the perimeter of your home, and the removal of any nests that the pest control service finds should leave your house flying ant-free.
A bonus of calling an exterminator for your flying ants is that you will most likely end up with zero bugs in your home. As the pest control spray works on the flying ants, it will also ward off any other insects hanging around.
DIY Pest Control
Trying to save money or prove to yourself and your family that flying ants are no match for you? Some people would rather do things on their own, or at least attempt to try it before calling in the professionals.
So, DIY pest control will probably not be as quick and easy as calling the pest control service, but it will be satisfying. This project will take effort, time, and determination, also it will require some tools.
Cutting Off Their Food Source
One great way to get rid of bugs in your home is to cut off their food source. So, once you realize what the flying ants are eating you can put that food in a sealed container or put it in the fridge- wherever the ants can not get it.
Unfortunately, this means that you can not leave your kitchen without double-checking the seals on your food packaging, and not leaving any dirty dishes in the sink. However, if you have kids this will teach them to be more diligent about taking care of the kitchen.
A Natural Remedy
For those that would rather not use chemical-based pest control in the form of aerosols, sprays, or powders, there are several natural remedies that you can try. So, what natural remedies could be as effective as a strong chemical?
You will most likely have to come at the pests from several different angles for it to be effective as a chemical. The downfall of some pest control chemicals, though, is that they can be harmful to you, your family, and your pet’s health if inhaled, ingested, or come into contact topically.
Essential oils are powerful plant extractions that have many uses, and pest control is one of them. Mixing just a few drops of essential oils in a spray bottle with water or vinegar and spraying it around your home will ward off bugs and make your home smell nice.
Some remedies say to use a few drops of dish soap in your spray bottle, too. But, that usually just ends up making a slippery sudsy mess.
Here are some essential oils that work well for flying ants:
- Peppermint
- Cinnamon
- Lemon
- Lavender
- Cedarwood
You can vacuum in the area where you spray, or simply wipe down the surfaces. Test before you spray on furniture or wood floors.
You can also use baking soda sprinkled around your basement, on your countertops, or in your sink to keep them away as they dislike baking soda.
If you like the scents you can make homemade cleaning products from essential oils that are all-natural and effective disinfectants.
Sticky Traps
Sticky traps are readily available, easy to use, and are effective. The only downfall of them is that they can take a while to work on a swarm of flying ants as you would have to wait for them all to land on the trap.
Sticky traps can be flat and set on surfaces or hung up on areas like windows. They also can fold up like little open-ended boxes and be set around where they are hanging out.
How to Stop Them From Coming Back
After all of that work of getting rid of the flying ants, you will want to do everything that you can to ensure that they will not return. While you can not control nature (especially flying bugs) you can take certain precautions to bug-proof your home.
Block off any cracks around your home with caulking to prevent them from coming in that way. And, make sure that all of your windows have screens without holes or tears.
Planting some lavender, peppermint, or citronella plants around your house will also help to keep the bugs away!
Bye Bye Bugs
There are many home remedies and pest control products sold in the store if you prefer to attack the flying ant issue on your own.
If you would rather leave this job to the professional pest control service, you can give us at Pointe Pest Control a call.