Pest Control: Dealing With Flying Ants In Your Home

Flying ants are not a good sign. However, having winged ants living in summer can be a problem. This is because ants fly only when they are ready to breed. If you see flying ants in your home during summer, it is likely that they are living in the structure. Worse, it could be a carpenter’s nest. You need to know the best pest control measures to deal with this problem.

Differences between Termites and Ants

Carpenter ants are quite common in the United States, but they are often mistaken for termites. Carpenter ants can be larger than termites, but some are smaller. Carpenter ants are among the largest ant species.

How can you tell if it’s a termite? You should look for:

Dark-colored bodies
Slim waists
Elbowed (bent) antennae
The hind wings are shorter than the front wings.

These characteristics are a sign that it is a Carpenter Ant

Carpenter arts are more common outdoors than termites. Both termites and carpenter bugs can cause damage to homes. However, termites eat the wood they tunnel into, while carpenter insects only nest in it. The frass, which is insect parts, soil, and wood dust, is another difference between termites and carpenter bugs. It is often found under the openings of the carpenter’s nest.

Flying Ants Swarm to Mate

It doesn’t matter if the winged ant that you see is a termite or a carpenter ant, the wings indicate that the insect is a reproductive male. Once the males have done their job, they will die and the queens take their place and drop their wings in search of a nesting spot.

This could be because a winged ant seen indoors in the summer might just be an indication that it has come from outside. The ant will die before it can find a suitable nesting spot, so pest control in Myrtle Beach is not necessary. However, the ants do not normally nest outdoors during winter so if you see a flying ant indoors it is most likely that they are nesting inside the structure.

Although termites rarely swarm in winter, they can be found in warm areas of infested structures. The first sign of indoor infestation is the sudden appearance or flight of termites or swarming insects.

Pest Control: Carpenter Ant Treatment

Carpenter ants can nest in dry wood but they are more likely in wet or damp wood.

Next, use an insecticide to kill and control ants who have made their nest indoors.

Insecticide dust: This insecticide is designed for carpenters ants. It is intended for use inside the house. You can inject this into the spots where there are nesting ants. Tiny holes can be made to inject the dust if it is hard to reach the area.

Bait: You can also use bait. Baits can be safer and easier to use, even though their effect is slow. To eliminate entire colonies, foraging ants will grab the bait and return it to their queen and colony. Ant baits that are sold in stores can be labeled for different ants. Always read the label and ensure it is specifically formulated for carpenter-ant species.

Spray: Insecticides won’t have any effect on foraging ants as they will only kill ants that have foraged for food. However, sprays can be used to provide relief for ants who have just moved in from the outside. It is crucial and required by law that you read and comply with all labels when using insecticides.