Flying ants: what Flying Ant Day is and what to do
Flying ants are not a separate species: they are the winged queens and males of an ordinary ant nest, flying out on a warm, humid summer day to mate. In Britain this nuptial flight is known as Flying Ant Day, although it happens on many days across July and August. Outside it is over quickly. If they come out of a gap indoors, there is a nest in or against your house, and you tackle that through the workers.
In this article
What are flying ants?
Flying ants are the young queens and males of an ant colony, which have wings so they can mate with ants from other nests and start new colonies. The workers you normally see in the kitchen have no wings. According to the Natural History Museum, the winged ants you see in the UK, especially in towns, are almost always black garden ants (Lasius niger); the larger ones are the queens. Red ants (Myrmica rubra) swarm too.
When is Flying Ant Day in the UK?
There is no single Flying Ant Day: flying ants appear on many days in summer, mostly in July and August. The Royal Society of Biology's Flying Ant Survey, run with the University of Gloucestershire, found winged ants on most days between early June and early September, with several peaks that each last a few days. One street can see a swarm weeks before or after the next.
Why do flying ants suddenly appear?
Because the weather tells every nest that it is time: ants only fly on warm days with little wind, often when the weather has just improved. The Royal Society of Biology found that they only emerge when it is warmer than 13 °C and the wind is light. Many nests in the same area release their winged ants at the same moment, so queens and males from different nests can meet. That is why a swarm seems to appear out of nowhere in the garden, on the patio or around a window.
Are they flying ants or termites?
In the UK almost certainly flying ants: Britain's only known termite infestation, in Saunton in North Devon, was declared eradicated by the Building Research Establishment in 2021. You can tell them apart by the waist and the antennae: an ant has a narrow waist and bent antennae, a termite does not.
| Feature | Flying ant | Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Waist | Clearly narrow between thorax and abdomen | No narrow waist, the body is the same width all along |
| Antennae | Bent, with an elbow | Straight, like a string of beads |
| Wings | Front wings larger than back wings | Front and back wings the same shape |
| Colour | Dark brown to black (black garden ant) | Usually pale |
Are flying ants dangerous?
No, not usually: flying ants are looking for a mate and a place for a new nest, and they do no damage to your house or your belongings. Black garden ants do not sting; red ants can. The nuisance is mostly the numbers, and the question of whether there is a nest in your home.
How long do flying ants stay?
Only a short time: a swarm is over within hours to a few days, and according to the Natural History Museum the males die within days of the flight. A mated queen drops her wings and looks for a spot to start a new nest. If winged ants keep coming out of the same gap indoors day after day, there is a nest there.
What should you do about flying ants in the house?
Usually just clear them up; only if they come out of a gap indoors do you need to tackle the nest:
- Vacuum them up or sweep them outside. A spray is not needed: flying ants do not stay.
- Close windows and doors on the side where the swarm is, until it is over.
- See where they come from. If they come out of a gap in the floor, the skirting board or the wall, there is a nest there.
- Follow the workers without wings. Their trail leads to the nest, and that is where you tackle it: a bait on the trail, and the trail left alone.
- Seal the gap once no more ants come through.
How to tackle the nest step by step is in our guide how to get rid of ants in the house.
Sources
- Natural History Museum: Flying ant day, when winged ants take their nuptial flight.
- Royal Society of Biology: Flying Ant Survey (with the University of Gloucestershire).
- Building Research Establishment: termite eradication programme in Saunton, North Devon (ended 2021).
- Wikipedia: black garden ant (Lasius niger); termites, features.
