We recently discussed swarming termites, so let’s look at a related concern — the swarming ant.

Swarming ants are commonly seen around homes during the spring. As temperatures rise they come out to reproduce and “mix” with other colonies.

Normally this takes place outside only. But if you have a colony near your home then this swarming can be seen indoors.

Identifying ants vs. termite swarmers is most easily done by looking at their waist. Ant swarmers have a pinched waist while termite swarmers have a uniform middle.

If you find swarming ants inside your home, then there is an ant nest inside, underneath or close to the structure. If you haven’t had a problem with ants previously inside, these indoor swarming ants are probably not a concern. The swarming lasts for only a few days, or less.

So you can even just use a vacuum cleaner, or low-toxicity indoor flying insect spray, and the problem is handled.

If don’t see any other evidence of ants besides those swarmers, then you may not need any further treatment.

Two exceptions to this are acrobat or carpenter ants. These are wood-boring ants that can become chronic pests in a home. They don’t eat wood like a termite, but they can make galleries and bore out tunnels inside wood beams of your house, often up near roof lines and attics. If you have these swarming wood ants, chances are that worker ants will be present indoors and you could get an infestation, which may require treatment.

If you see winged ants and are concerned and want treatment, give us a call at 512-443-0123 or fill out our website form for a fast, free quote!