Wings mean a colony is close
Flying ants are a mature colony sending out new kings and queens, and where you see them tells you a lot.
Check the waist.
Ants have a pinched waist and bent antennae. Termites have a thick waist and straight antennae.
Note the spot.
A swarm inside, away from doors and windows, can mean a nest in your walls.
Get it checked.
Ants are covered on our plans, and termite inspections are free.
Flying ants in the house are swarmers, winged males and females that leave a mature colony to mate and start new ones. A few near an open door may have drifted in. A swarm inside usually means a colony is nesting in or right next to your home.
The good news is that ants, including carpenter ants, are covered on our home pest control plans. The first job is making sure they’re ants and not termites.
Why do flying ants show up in the house?
Flying ants show up when an established colony is ready to reproduce, often on warm days after rain. The swarmers head for light, which is why you find them on windows and sliding doors.
Many colonies take a few years to grow big enough to swarm. So winged ants inside usually point to a colony that has been around a while, not a brand new problem.
Are flying ants in the house a sign of termites?
Not always, but they look alike, so it’s worth a close look. Check three things:
- Waist. Ants have a narrow, pinched waist. Termites are thick through the middle.
- Antennae. Ant antennae bend at an elbow. Termite antennae are straight.
- Wings. Ant front wings are longer than the back pair. Termite wings are all the same length and shed easily, leaving piles near windows.
Our guide to ants vs termites has more on telling the two apart. If you’re not sure, collect a few in a sealed bag. Every termite job starts with a free termite inspection.
What if the flying ants are carpenter ants?
Large black winged ants inside can be carpenter ants, which nest in damp or damaged wood. Look for sawdust-like piles near baseboards and windows. Our post on signs of a carpenter ant infestation covers what to watch for.
Carpenter ants are covered on every plan, so you won’t pay extra to deal with them.
What should you do about flying ants in the house?
Vacuum up the swarmers and note where they came from. Spraying the ones you see won’t reach the colony that sent them.
When we treat ants, we inspect your home, yard and entry points, then treat an exterior barrier plus inside where needed. Allow 10 to 14 days for products to work. If ants come back between visits, re-service is free on every plan. Our ant infestation page has more on the ants we see most around Kansas City.
Ants without wings? Here’s why you have ants in the kitchen, how to spot pavement ants and which works better, ant bait vs spray.
Not sure if it’s ants or termites? Call 913-735-5451, answered 24/7, or schedule online. Most services can be scheduled same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Flying ants appear when a mature ant colony in or near your home sends out winged swarmers to mate, often on a warm day after rain. Seeing them inside usually means the colony is close by.
Flying ants have a pinched waist, elbowed antennae and front wings longer than the back wings. Termite swarmers have a thick waist, straight antennae and four wings of equal length.
Not always, but large black winged ants inside can be carpenter ants, especially if you also find sawdust-like piles near wood. Carpenter ants are covered on every Rock Pest home pest control plan.
The swarmers die off within a few days, but the colony that produced them stays. Treating the colony, not just the winged ants, is what stops them from coming back next season.
Yes, Rock Pest offers a free termite inspection to tell you whether the swarmers are ants or termites. Termites are a separate service from our home pest control plans.
