Quick Tips to Get Rid of Flying Ants
By Dawn Reno Langley
Most ants crawl, but some varieties fly, and those might get
into your hair, your food, and your trash, but some are far more damaging than
irritating. Getting rid of the pesky creatures is fairly easy if you know
how—and if you can determine what type of flying ants you have.
Types of Flying Ants
Before you bring out the pesticide spray to get rid of those
pesky flying ants, take a closer look to determine what type of bugs you have. According
to University of Florida entomologists, several characteristics make it easy to
distinguish termites from flying ants. Because there are dozens of types of
carpenter ants, some of which fly, gardeners and home owners should look at the
features that are easiest to identify. The University of California’s
Integrated Pest Management Program offers excellent graphics of the
differences between termites and ants, which include:
·
Wings: Termite’s
wings are equal length; flying ants wings are longer in the front and the rear
set of wings is half the size.
·
Waists: Ants
have a constricted waist and termites have a broad waist.
·
Color: Ants
are dark; termites are a lighter color.
Where They Live
Ants nest in debris or foliage around a building’s
foundation, but they also can build nests in small cracks or holes anywhere in
a building. If you find them inside your home, it is a good idea to determine
whether the flying creatures you see are, indeed, flying ants or whether they
are termites. Carpenter ants damage wood structures almost as effectively as
termites, and the easiest way to see whether your building is home to them is
to scrutinize the area around your siding and walls for little trails of
sawdust. Those trails indicate there’s a
nest nearby. Whether it’s a nest of
termites or carpenter ants, you must be proactive.
When You Find Them
If you
discover flying ants during the summertime, there’s a good chance they just
happened to get inside because your house/building is more open during that
season. If it’s wintertime, chances are they’ve nested in your building. Flying
ants are not active in the winter. Termites tend to swarm around rotting or
moist wood, and if you see them inside, you might have an infestation. If you
determine you have termites, call a pest control company. If you have flying
ants, you can take steps to handle the infestation yourself.
Protect Your Garden
and Buildings
1.
Trim bushes and low shrubs that hug the
foundation of your building.
2.
Keep mulch at least a foot away from siding.
3.
If possible, create a cement barrier at the base
of your building.
4.
When building fences or decks, choose a
termite-resistant material.
5.
Keep structures dry and well-ventilated.
6.
Remove piles of wood or debris from the area.
7.
Repair any cracks or holes in your building.
Removing the
Ants/Termites
·
Contact a professional termite control company
if you suspect you have a termite infestation. They are licensed to use the
correct pesticide to rid your building of the damaging pests.
·
Use over-the-counter pesticide baits if you have
flying ants in your garden/building.
·
Make a natural pesticide bait with borax and
sugar. Mix evenly and leave a small dish
of the mixture near the nest. Clean frequently.
·
Be careful to follow instructions.
·
Peppermint spray is a natural remedy for flying
ants. Mix peppermint oil (purchase at your local natural food store) with dish
detergent and water in a spray bottle.
(One part soap, two parts water, several drops of peppermint oil). Shake well and spray.
·
Spray dish soap on the ants. The heaviness of
the soap weights down their wings, bringing them to the ground where they will
die.
·
Pesticide sprays tend to scatter ants, thus bait
traps are more effective.
·
A bug zapper works on most flying insects by
luring the bugs into it, then electrocuting them.
·
Carpenter ants are stubborn and may not succumb
to baits. Check with a professional if the bait traps don’t appear to be
successful.
Today's Poem -- About Ants
Ants
One is never alone. Saltwater taffy colored beach blanket spread on a dirt outcropping pocked with movement. Pell-mell tunneling, black specks the specter of beard hairs swarm, disappear, emerge, twitch, reverse course to forage along my shin, painting pathways with invisible pheromones that others take up in ceaseless streams. Ordered disarray, wingless expansionists form a colony mind, no sense of self outside the nest, expending summer to prepare for winter, droning on through midday heat. I watch, repose, alone.
