Do Flying Ants Sting?
Posted by Mosquito SquadAugust 20, 2024
What are flying ants? Are flying fire ants harmful?
Flying ants are fertile breeders, often called alates, reproductives, winged ants, and other terms relating to their life’s purpose. Most ant species have fliers. Queens are often born with wings, but do not take flight until it’s time to mate. Winged male drones will develop wings specifically to mate with queens. Once they mate, the queen will shed her wings, dig a nest, and lay eggs to populate her colony. The males will imminently, if not immediately, die.
Do Flying Fire Ants Sting?
If you have ever interrupted an ant hill belonging to fire ants, you know their stings can be very painful. Most fire ants are sterile females. The wingless girls do most of the work in fire ant colonies! Flying fire ants can sting, but they do not set out to sting. They fly to mate, but if they encounter a supposed threat, they will sting in their own defense. They are no more harmful to humans or pets than the stingers you see living on the ground.
Why Am I Suddenly Seeing Fire Ants?
The answer to this question is clear. If you see flying ants all of a sudden, it’s mating season. Winged male ants take flight in swarms, searching for their queen, most often in nests other than their own.
How Do Ants Know It’s Time to Mate?
Both male and female flying ants will sense that it’s time to mate, depending on the temperature, humidity, and length of day. Ants can take flight easier when the weather is warm. Humidity is helpful to female ants, as moisture will make the soil easier to move in order to nest.
Can I Control Flying Ants?
The best way to avoid the nuisance of flying ants is to call Mosquito Squad of El Paso for professional fire ant control. Ours is a tiered ant control approach, which utilizes our barrier protection yard treatment, broadcast granules, mound drench, and baits. With a one-time complimentary assessment, Mosquito Squad’s highly trained and knowledgeable El Paso pest control technicians will formulate the proper treatment for your property and provide you with a price to set your plan into action!
Search pest control El Paso and choose Mosquito Squad.
Mosquito Squad of El Paso is ready to serve you with our effective pest control services, including fire ant control, gnat control, fly control, and scorpion control. We also treat no-see-ums, mosquitoes, and other outdoor pests. Find out more about our pest control in El Paso - get in touch with Mosquito Squad of El Paso by filling out our form online or calling us at (915) 800-0343 for a free quote.