A SWARM of flying ants is set to hit the UK as early as this week – but an expert has shared some key things you can do to prevent them in your home.
Every summer brings the phenomenon known as Flying Ant Day – which can fall as early as mid-July – but it’s often rarely just a single day.
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Instead, it’s a series of swarming events when winged ants, flying males and future queens, take to the skies in search of mates.
The winged ants are harmless and won’t bite or invade your property permanently – in fact they can be beneficial as they feed birds, aerate soil and recycle nutrients.
However, they can understandably be a nuisance if you want to sit out with a drink in the sun.
Paul Blackhurst, Technical Academy Head at Rentokil Pest Control, said: “While you might spot a few flying ants on most warm summer days, optimal weather conditions can lead to the emergence of tens of millions of ants in giant swarms over a span of weeks across Britain.
“Contrary to its name, ‘flying ant day’, known colloquially as ‘flant day’, does not occur on a single day each year, and such events can occur in different areas of the country when the weather – temperature, humidity, and wind conditions are favourable.
“Humidity plays a crucial role in the life cycle of ants, particularly during the nuptial flight, keeping their wings and bodies moist as they mate on the wing.
“Once the mating has taken place, it’s all over for the smaller male ants who will fall to the ground and die, while the new, now fertile, queen loses her wings and buries herself underground to form a new nest.”
While the process is natural, it can be frustrating if you have plans of barbecues and picnics in the sun.
Here are some ant prevention tips from the pest experts at Rentokil…
SEAL ENTRY
To prevent ants and other pests from entering your home, it’s important to seal any cracks or gaps around doors, windows, and pipework using caulk or appropriate sealants.
By keeping windows and doors closed—especially during peak insect activity—you significantly reduce the chance of flying ants and other pests getting inside.
Installing fly screens on your doors and windows provides effective protection against flying ants, allowing you to enjoy fresh air without the risk of pests coming in.
REMOVE FOOD
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Regularly sweep and clean under kitchen appliances and cabinets to remove any food crumbs or debris that may attract ants and other insects.
Promptly wiping up spills, whether solid or liquid, helps eliminate potential food sources for ants and prevents them from being drawn into your home.
Keeping food sealed in airtight containers reduces odors and prevents ants from accessing your supplies, making your kitchen less inviting to pests.
Pet food left out can attract ants quickly, so be sure to remove any uneaten food shortly after your pet finishes eating.
KEEP YOUR HOME CLEAN
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Use bins with secure, tightly fitting lids to stop ants from accessing food waste, and empty them regularly to avoid buildup.
Clean surfaces thoroughly with a strong detergent to eliminate the invisible pheromone trails left by foraging ants, which can otherwise lead more ants straight to a food source in your home.
Vinegar spray and other essential oils can also be used as natural deterrents around entry points.
If ants do find their way in, don’t kill them near food as this can attract more to follow.
Instead vacuum them up and remove them from your house.
Ant prevention tips for your home and garden
FLYING ant day, also known as the nuptial flight and colloquially as ‘flant day’, is a natural phenomenon in which high numbers of ants with wings, called alates, simultaneously take to the skies in search of mates from other colonies. Here are some ant prevention tips for the pest experts at Rentokil…
- Block entry points by sealing cracks and crevices around doors, windows and pipework
- Sweep up food debris from under kitchen appliances and units
- Clear up any food or liquid spillages immediately.
- Store your food in airtight containers wherever possible.
- If you have a pet, clear away any food that isn’t eaten straight away.
- Make sure all rubbish bins have tightly sealed lids.
- Keeping windows and doors shut is one of the most effective methods of preventing flying insects from entering your home
- Installing a fly screen will prevent flying ants from entering your home, whilst still leaving windows and doors open
- Use a strong detergent to remove any pheromone trails foraging ants have laid down to direct other ants to a food source.