Flying Ants In The House
- How urgent
- Low risk
- Who fixes it
- A pest controller
What's happening?
Flying ants are the winged males and young queens of a nest that leave on a mating flight, usually in warm, humid weather in summer. Tameside Council says the flight can last two to three hours and the ants may fly inside buildings. Gravesham Council says ants in the UK pose no risk to the public and that the winged ones, usually seen in late summer, are controlled by vacuuming. Most of the time the nest is outside, in a lawn, patio or wall, and the swarm is gone by the next day. A steady stream of winged ants from one spot indoors, such as a skirting or a window frame, means a nest inside or in the wall.
Book a pest controller
What usually causes it?
- A mating flight from a garden ant nest in a lawn, patio or wall, after warm, humid weather
- A nest under paving or a patio next to the house, with ants coming in at a door or window
- A nest in the wall cavity or under the floor, with winged ants emerging indoors
- Open windows and doors during the flight, when the ants are drawn to light
- An older nest that has grown enough to produce winged queens
Is it dangerous?
No. Gravesham Council says ants in the UK pose no risk to the public, though they can be a nuisance in large numbers or in the home. The ants leave on their own within hours and the swarm does not mean the house is infested.
Can I fix it myself?
Open the windows and switch off the room lights so they can leave. Vacuum up the ones indoors and empty the cleaner into an outside bin, which Gravesham Council suggests doing before any insecticide. A flying insect aerosol will kill the ones it hits. Look outside for a nest: Gravesham Council says garden ants often nest in lawns or flowerbeds, causing ant hills. Block the gap at the door or window that they use. Do not spray a swarm that is outdoors; it is over in a day.
When should you call a pest controller?
Call a pest controller or your council when winged ants keep coming from the same place indoors, when there is a nest in the wall or under the floor, or when ants keep coming back in numbers after the swarm. Councils such as Tameside note that treatment may only deal with the nest it reaches, not guarantee the whole colony.
What will the pest controller actually do?
- Find the nest by following the trail to the entry point, indoors and out
- Treat the nest and the runs, indoors and around the outside walls
- Dust or treat entry points around doors, windows, airbricks and pipe gaps
- Advise on sealing gaps and clearing the area outside the walls
Who fixes this
Questions people ask
Why have I got flying ants in my house all of a sudden?
What should I do about flying ants in the house?
Do flying ants bite or cause damage?
Does the nest need treating?
Sources & References
Before you book, read how to check a tradesman is legit.
What would yours cost?
We'll tell you the price for this, then find a local pest controller to do it.
Get my instant quote