What Do Flying Ants Mean?

If you see flying ants inside, then there is likely an ant nest in your home.

Flying ants are reproducing males and females. The males die shortly after breeding and the fertilized females will attempt to start a new colony.

If you see flying ants, this is a sign of a mature colony. An apple tree must grow several years before producing apples. Likewise, an ant colony must grow several years before they send out these male and female reproductive ants. While thousands of acorns fall from a tree. Only a couple develop into trees. The same goes for the life of a winged female ant reproductive. Birds, lizards, and toads feast on them. Heat, desiccation and failure to find suitable nest sites also threaten their survival.

Thousands of these flying ants are released from the nest at just the right time. The temperature must not be too hot. Significant rainfall will have occurred in the past 24 hours. This is because moist soil is easier to excavate for nests. And the humidity will prevent them from drying out.

What Time Of Year Do Flying Ants Occur?

Late Spring Swarms: Carpenter ants and pavement ants.

Early Summer Swarms: Acrobat ants, little black ants, and pavement ants.

Late Summer Swarms: Acrobat ants, little black ants, harvester ants, pavement ants, thief ants, and cornfield ants.

Early Fall Swarms: Field ants, acrobat ants, pavement ants, thief ants and citronella ants.

Many people mistake flying ants for termite swarmers. Termites swarm in early spring in Cleveland, Ohio. The easiest way to tell them apart is that ants have a bent elbowed antennae and termites have a beaded antennae. Termites also have a broad body compared to ants.

Citronella ants nest in the soil. if the nests are close to your home, the swarmers can cover your foundation. This occurs in late October.