Flying Ants: How To Get Rid Of Flying Ants - Six Simple Tips

Met Office warns of a 'swarm' of flying ants in parts of the UK

Typically flying ants appear at the end of summer each year, with a designated day known as "Flying Ant Day". However, changes in temperature and humidity can mean ants appear earlier than usual, and some have already been experiencing the pesky bugs.

Often known as alates, flying ants are the fertile male and female ants.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

The purpose of these ants is to leave the nest to reproduce and start a new colony.

This happens in the form of swarms where flying ants from multiple colonies conjoin to breed mid-air.

Twitter users have been quick to complain about the irritating bugs, with one person writing: "It’s officially the worst season... it’s flying ant season".

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

Read More: Flying ants infestation: Why do flying ants appear?

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

Flying ants: Flying ants have been spotted across the UK (Image: GETTY)

• Flying ants swarm: How long do flying ants live?

Another said: "Of all the strange things I've discovered are normal in England, the day when thousands of flying ants rise from their nests every year is by far the most disgusting one."

A third wrote: "General 2020 rule. Don’t leave the house.

"I only wanted to visit Homebase which was quite post apocalyptic and the local Superdrug which is when the flying ants attacked. #flyingantday".

While a fourth added: "My @Ocado delivery van just got attacked by a swarm of flying ants . 100’s of the buggers".

Flying ants: Swarms of the winged insects have been seen each summer (Image: GETTY)

Do all ants have wings?

According to Rentokil: "Generally the fertile males and females (alates) are the only forms of ants which have wings.

"However, this can vary depending on the species of ant, as there have been cases where the workers have wings as well.

"Most sightings of flying ants are the alates rather than the workers.

"For the most part, the majority of the sightings of flying ants are the alates rather than the workers."

DON'T MISSBed bug bites: Signs you've been bitten by the critters [INSIGHT]Flying ants: Weather radar mistakes flying ant SWARMS for rain [PICTURES]How to get rid of bed bugs: Four simple tips [EXPLAINED]

• Cars may be destroyed by this insect over the summer
• Millions of 'car rotting' insects set to swarm to UK

• Locust plague: Devastating warning of human starvation

Six tips for getting rid of flying ants

1. Spray with dishwashing soap

Surprisingly one household item can tackle flying ants and that is dishwashing soap.

The soap attaches to the bodies of the ants and dehydrates them.

You can use a spray bottle and fill it with water and two to three squirts of dish soap, and then spray it at any flying ants you see.

Flying ants: The purpose of these ants is to leave the nest to reproduce and start a new colony (Image: GETTY)

2. Use sticky tape to catch them

If you place some food on the ground to attract the flying pests, you can place some sticky tape down with the sticky side up.

Put the tape as close as possible to the food, and the ants will land on it.

This will then trap the ants in place and stop them from flying anywhere else.

3. Use insecticidal powder

Using traditional bug-killing methods like spray and powder can prevent an invasion in your home.

Place insecticidal powder around your window or door frames, or spray bug spray to prevent any unwanted guests.

Flying ants: The pesky ants are relatively easy to get rid of (Image: GETTY)

4. Use artificial sweetener

Despite ants having a speciality of invading picnics and swarming over discard foods, some sweeteners are toxic to them.

If you want to get rid of a large number of ants in one go, mix an artificial sweetener with apple juice and leave it out for them to get.

The ants will then carry this odd paste back to their colony and it will kill a large swathe of them.

5. Pour boiling water into the anthill

If you have a troublesome ant hill in your garden, one method to get rid of the occupants is to pour boiling water down the hole.

This should kill most of the ants and deter any returning ants from coming back.

• Ladybird INVASION: What is a black ladybird with red spots?
• Asian hornets with sting which can kill have invaded the UK

6. Place tin cans over the anthill

First thing on a morning head out to the anthill and place a tin can over the entrance.

As the sun heats up the tin can, the ants will carry their eggs up into it.

Gardening news, tips and inspiration plus selected offers and competitions Subscribe Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Get More of Our News on Google

Set Daily Express as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value.

Then, later in the day use a piece of cardboard and slide it beneath the tin can, and dispose of the eggs.

You can place them on a bird feeder as they make a nice treat for birds.

How to Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Comments Most Read Most Commented Latest on Gardeners' World Gardeners' World expert Adam Frost names seven plants he's growing now to attract wildlife Monty Don's heartbreaking end of life confession in 'final gift to family' BBC Gardeners' World's Adam Frost leaves viewers in tears after emotional reveal Gardeners' World fans in tears as Monty Don makes 'last show' announcement BBC Gardeners' World fans all say same thing over guest's indoor collection RSPB urges gardeners to watch bird table for one hour this weekend Gardeners urged to avoid six common gardening hacks that could be killing plants ‘I’m a gardening expert - if you want to start growing your food you need these 4 seeds’ Roses will grow bigger blooms this year if gardeners do key task in January Gardeners urged to prune these six plants within next nine days I asked gardening expert for the three easiest vegetables to plant now – they ‘grow fast’ Gardeners' World expert Adam Frost names seven plants he's growing now to attract wildlife 'Kill moss' and weeds with 1 natural solution – better than boiling water and vinegar Woodpeckers will come into the garden every day if you leave out one natural ingredient Magpies and pigeons will hate your garden if you do one simple task pest experts recommend Everyone urged to put eggshells in gardens this January Remove patio moss with natural household item three experts prefer to pressure washers Why solar-powered lights in your garden may not last as long as you hope Roses can come back healthier with bigger flowers if one job is done before January ends Stop using 'cheap' bird feed filler or risk harming birds in your garden 'Plant these bare-root varieties now to get a head start on growth' I asked gardeners what the must-have plants for winter are – they all said the same three Peace lilies and orchids will bloom bigger flowers if fed one natural item you throw away Five essential gardening jobs expert says must be done now for a ‘fruitful’ spring garden Gardeners urged to spray one everyday item around garden to keep mice and rats away Plants and flowers will be free of fungal diseases when you spray with one natural item Keep birds coming back to your garden by fixing one common feeder mistake

Daily Express uses notifications to keep you updated

Keep me updated No thanks