What To Do If You Spot A Swarm Of Flying Ants Around Your Home Or Yard

Seeing a trail of ants crawling around your home or yard is one thing, but a swarm of flying insects can be enough to make anyone spiral. However, there's no need to panic. There are many types of ants you may find in your home and garden, and it's common to mistake flying ants for something more harmful, like carpenter ants or termites. Flying ants are, in fact, usually regular queen ants, fertile females, and males looking to mate. If you spot a swarm around your home or yard, or want to prevent one before it happens, there are a few DIY tactics you can try. Preventative tactics include removing any moist or damp wood from your property, as well as any left-out food or trash. You can use mechanical removal, essential oils, or insecticides for a severe infestation, or contact an exterminator. 

You may have noticed large hordes of flying ants in the summertime. Usually taking place in warmer months like July and August, "flying ant season" consists of large swarms of these insects that, while irritating, are harmless. It can often be difficult to tell the difference between a flying ant and a termite. However, this is important to determine first so you can understand the type of insect you're dealing with and the urgency of the situation. While termites have wider bodies and straight antennae, flying ants have bent antennae, as well as pinched waists. Flying ants also have two pairs of wings. Once you've concluded that you're dealing with flying ants, you can move forward in your pest control tactics. 

If you are able to locate the nest, which could be anywhere from a mound in your yard to a spot under a log (inside your home, you'll find it in covered spaces), you can use a vacuum to remove it or apply an insecticide spray. Another tactic to try is making your own essential oil spray and applying it to the nest or popular swarming areas to ward off the ants. Fragrant herb essential oils like thyme, peppermint, tea tree, lavender, and eucalyptus are common scents that can keep ants away from your home. You can also use a combination of two oils. Combine a few drops of essential oil with ⅓ cup of dish soap and ⅔ cup of water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle to apply to popular flying ant areas. If these DIY methods are not keeping flying ant swarms away from your property, you may want to call a professional pest control expert to help manage the infestation. 

You can take some steps to prevent flying ants from congregating in certain areas of your yard in the first place. They are mainly attracted to areas with moisture, such as standing water or damp soil, as well as any sweet or sugary substances. This means you will want to be cautious about leaving food, beverages, or spills out on your property. Flying ants also nest in rotting or damp wood, so removing any similar wet materials from your lawn will help prevent them from nesting. If rotting wood is part of your patio, deck, or outdoor furniture, you may want to repair it or simply remove it completely.