Winged Ants
Understanding Winged Ants and How to Identify an Infestation
Winged ants are often mistaken for termites, but there are plenty of differences between the two species. Ants are very social insects and as many of us know, there are many different types of ants in a colony, each one playing a specific role that collectively contributes to the functioning of their "society". Winged ants are just one of the types of ants that make up a colony, and their role is extremely crucial in the development and growth of the colony.
Ants that have wings are the sexually mature group of the colony. Some of these ants are females, which have the potential to become queens in the future, but the majority of these ants are males. After a winged female has mated, she ditches the wings and uses the muscles that once controlled them as a source of nutrients while she tries to populate the colony. Unfortunately, this is a very physically trying time and one that most "queens" never survive. That, coupled with the fact that there are few female winged ants to begin with are the two main reasons why queen ants are so precious.
If you have noticed a large amount of winged ants in your yard or around your home, then the chances are pretty high that there is a colony nearby. The presence of these ants confirms that it is mating time, during which they will swarm out of the nest and do their business. It can be a little unnerving to see such a swarm in one's yard, however if there has never been any infestation within the house, then it's pretty safe to say that the existing colony will not pose any threat to your home. The ants that show up at this swarming mating fest are likely not just from the colony located in your yard. Winged ants will come from neighboring colonies all throughout the area to partake in this mating ritual.
The mating usually takes place during the course of a day. Once the males have mated, they die. The remaining females will set off in the hopes of creating her very own colony somewhere else. So as you can see, this swarming does not necessarily indicate that you have a huge colony on your hands--in fact, the winged ants that were once a part of the local ant colony are now either dead or moving away to start their own colony.
The time to be concerned is when it appears that the winged ants are moving into or very near your home. This could be a sign that there is already a colony established within your home. If only one or two winged ants are seen near or in the home after a swarm, it may be a mated female scoping the place out as a potential spot for her future colony. The most common species of ant that is capable of creating a nest indoors is called the carpenter ant. They have red bodies with a black bottom.
There are a few ways you can identify the presence of a carpenter ant colony in your home. The first bit of evidence is actually spotting the ants in your home. These colonies are quite large and therefore the ants may literally crop up all around the home to forage for food. A large amount or continuous sightings of these ants are a pretty good indication that there is a nest within the home. You may also notice sawdust like material lying about the house or trapped in spider webs. As the ants are wood excavators, this sawdust material results from the burrowing these ants do. You may also see lines within the wood in your home that appears to have been tunneled or broken apart. You may also hear rustling or light chipping sounds in wooded areas of your home as the ants excavate.
An ant infestation is very difficult to control and exterminate on your own. Sprays and dusts only kill the ants that it comes into contact with and will not eradicate the heart of the colony. If you believe you have an infestation in your home, it's best to contact a professional exterminator as soon as possible.