Flying ants being a pest? Here's how to get rid of them once and for all

If you’ve spent your morning desperately Googling 'How to get rid of flying ants,' you’re not alone. Why the tales of flying ant day isn't exactly true, it is a fact that we're now in the thick ofI flying ant season. Oh, the joy!

There's an old rumour that there's a specific 'flying ant day' each year, usually in July in August. It's said that on this day, all of the flying ants in the UK come out of their hidey holes in their droves. As for the truth? There's both good and bad news, as while there isn't a single day, there is a whole season.

This year you're more than likely to be having to deal with these pesky critters all summers as they swarm gardens and invade houses, so just like we explained how how you get rid of ants, we went to the experts to ask how to rid of flying ants.

After all, this summer, they're not holding back. ‘There's no doubt that this year's strange summer weather has had an impact on the ants' swarming behaviour, which could be why we're seeing an unusually large number of flying ants,’ suggests animal expert Tommy Wylde.

1. Turn on your diffuser

There’s a high chance you already have a diffuser in your house. If so, you’re already one step closer to getting rid of flying ants in your house.

By filling up your diffuser with a citrus or peppermint scent (top tip: peppermint oil also helps you get rid of spiders), you should stop flying ants in their tracks and force them out of the house. Plus, you could even make a concoction to use around the house yourself.

‘Flying ants despise scents of citrus fruits, so mixing your leftover lemon, lime or orange peel with water can create an excellent rub to spread over your windowsill,’ suggests Adam Pawson, marketing director at Safestyle.

2. Bin any leftovers

Like all pesky critters, flying ants are attracted to anything food-related. In their eyes, the sweeter, the better, which is why you should always bin any leftovers and properly clean your kitchen as often as you can to stop the ants from entering your house. 

‘Keep any food items stored away or under cover and wipe up any sticky spills as soon as they happen to avoid attracting ants,’ says pest control expert Jonathan Nicholls at HomeHow.co.uk

And if they’re already in the house, they’ll most likely leave when they no longer have anything delicious to munch on. 

3. Use a fly screen

The trouble with flying ants loving warm weather means that they appear when they find it easiest to get in through windows left open due to the heat (although, you should, in fact, close windows in a heatwave).

Unlike as is common in much of the States, our home don't tend to come with fly screens, but they may be onto something for flying ant season. You can install a proper fly screen to doors or windows, or simply add a temporary screen that you can remove at the end of the season. This way, you can keep the windows open as much as you please without letting unwelcome visitors in.

4. Close your windows

Flying ants normally come out of their hidey holes during the summer months, which is normally when you fling open your windows and let the cool breeze in. But this could actually be doing more harm than good.

So, it may sound obvious, but closing your windows is one of the best ways to get rid of flying ants. Of course, you’ll want to deter them from the house initially by removing food scraps and utilising citrus scents, and then you can focus on blocking their points of entry. 

‘Windows provide easy access for pesky flying ants to enter our properties, so it’s important to make sure any entry points are sealed shut,' advises Adam. 'If any flying ants or insects have entered your home, make sure to frequently dust and clean any particularly light and airy spaces to ensure no insects or bugs get a chance to set up camp.'

5. Use fly traps as a last resort

If you’re really suffering from flying ants in your home and the above methods haven’t worked, you might want to consider fly traps or other pest control methods as a last resort. 

Of course, fly traps work wonders when you want to know how to get rid of flies, and they work in the same way for flying ants. And while you could opt to buy poisonous fly traps, we’d encourage you to try and make your own natural alternatives instead. For example, you could make a trap using honey or hand soap. 

However, if this still doesn’t work and you’re at a loose end, Daniel Steward, managing director at Shield Pest Control, has some tips. ‘If you notice a swarm of flying ants in your home, spray pesticides can help to rid of visible ants that are flying around or resting on surfaces,’ he says. 

‘You can also use a vacuum to eliminate visible ants, but it is crucial to ensure that the vacuum cleaner is emptied immediately and the bag is taken outside of the house to avoid the ants finding a way back into the home.’

FAQs

What is the fastest way to get rid of flying ants?

The fastest way to get rid of flying ants is to vacuum them up or use a pesticide. However, both of these methods will cause harm to the flying ants - something that isn’t necessary when there are so many other natural alternatives. In most cases, prevention is better than the cure, and you can stop flying ants from entering your house by removing food traces, closing your windows, and even using citrus scents as a natural flying ant repellent.

Why do flying ants suddenly appear?

Although they’re a nuisance, it’s important to understand that flying ants are a vital part of our ecosystem - and that they suddenly appear for a very important reason.

‘While it might seem like the UK is being invaded by a black, winged armada every summer, these flying ants are just looking for love,’ explains Dr Cheri Honnas of Bone Voyage Dog Rescue. ‘Around July or August – thanks to the warm temperature – young queen ants leave their nests aiming to start new colonies, and male ants join them in this nuptial flight. Their large numbers? It's all about protection. They gather in swarms so predators can't pick them off easily.’

So, while it may seem like they appear out of nowhere, that’s not the case at all. They’re always around, but they’re especially active (and in noticeably large numbers) during this mating season.