Most children are amazed by bugs. Perhaps you were even amazed by them at one time in your life. Do you remember seeing them crawling up the side of your home or stuck to an inside window? When you were younger, you probably didn't think too much about where you were seeing these insects; they were just cool to look at. But, as an adult, it is important to take heed of where you're seeing flying ants. Here's why.
In The Woods
If you're out in the woods and you see a flying ant, you don't have to worry at all. It doesn't matter what species of ant it is, that ant isn't anywhere near your home. So, even if it is a carpenter ant--a pest that is responsible for millions of dollars each year in U.S. property damage--you have nothing to fear.
In Your Yard
If you see flying ants in your yard, you may not have to be all that worried about it. Ants can be beneficial pests in your yard, as long as they stay there. Ants help aerate soil, which will make your lawn greener and more lush.
On Your Home
If you're finding flying ants on your exterior walls, you may want to take closer look. Flying ants are produced by a mature colony, and these ants do not travel far from the nest that produced them. So, it is possible that they came from a nest inside the walls of your home. And, if the flying ant you are looking at is a carpenter ant, that can be a problem. The easiest way to tell if it is a carpenter ant is to pinch its wings and take a look at its body. Carpenter ants have a single node between their thorax and abdomen, but that node will be hard to see without turning the winged ant over.
If touching a flying ant is undesirable, you can look to see if there are any ants nearby that have shed their wings. These ants will be big, black (with a possible reddish tint), and have the noticeable node at their waist.
In Your Home
If you're finding large black winged ants inside your home, you definitely have a mature colony living in your walls. It is time to call a pest control company.
Don't take chances with your equity. When you see carpenter ants in places they should not be, call a professional. These wood-destroying pests can cost you a lot of money if you don't have them taken care of.
In the U.S., there are more than 22,000 pest control companies, and only 3% of those companies are qualified to be designated as QualityPro Certified. Parkway Pest Services is one of them. You can trust our team to take care of your carpenter ant problem safely and effectively. If you live in Manhasset, Great Neck or elsewhere in our New York and Connecticut service area, reach out to us and get your home protected starting today.