Suddenly, they are crawling and flying around windows, doors or on the patio: Flying ants often seem to appear out of nowhere and quickly cause uncertainty. Many people affected ask themselves: What can be done about flying ants? Are they dangerous? And how can flying ants be controlled when they keep appearing?
In this article, we explain what is behind flying ants, why they appear particularly on warm days and when action is required.
Controlling ants – what is the best approach?
The best way to control ants in the house is to first remove food sources, seal food and check entry points such as cracks or joints. If there is a visible ant trail, a suitable bait may be useful. If the infestation persists, larger numbers appear regularly or the ant species is unclear, professional help should be sought. In Cologne, Hürth and the surrounding area, Kaeferling Service with professional on-site pest control.
What are flying ants?
Flying ants are not a separate species of ant. They are sexually mature ants, usually young queens and males. During the so-called swarming season, they leave the nest to mate and establish new colonies.
After the mating flight, the male ants usually die after a short time. Mated young queens shed their wings and look for a suitable place for a new nest. This can lead to the formation of new ant colonies.
Source: German Environment Agency – Ants
Why do flying ants suddenly appear?
Flying ants occur particularly often in suitable warm weather conditions. At such times, many ants from a colony may swarm almost simultaneously. That is why it often looks as though they suddenly appear out of nowhere.
Common places where they are found include:
- Windows and windowsills
- Patio doors and balconies
- Light sources
- Kitchens and storage rooms
- Joints, cracks and skirting boards
- Facades and gaps in walls
- Garden areas near the house
If flying ants occur only outdoors, there is usually no immediate need for action. However, if they are repeatedly found indoors, the cause should be investigated.
The exact period of the swarming flight varies depending on the ant species and weather conditions.
Source: German Pest Control Association
Flying ants in the house: What does this mean?
Flying ants in the house can have various causes. Individual ants have often simply entered through open windows or doors.
However, if many winged ants appear or they are repeatedly visible in the same place, this may indicate that a colony is located inside the building or in the immediate vicinity.
Pay particular attention to the following signs:
- ants come out of cracks, joints, or wall areas
- ant trails form indoors
- flying ants repeatedly appear in the same place
- ants gather in larger numbers at windows or light sources
- new ants regularly appear after removal
In these cases, it is usually not enough to remove only the visible ants. It is important to find out where the ants are coming from and whether a colony is present.
Are flying ants dangerous?
Flying ants are often no cause for concern. Individual ants during a natural swarming flight do not automatically mean that an infestation is present.
However, the ant species and the situation on site are decisive. Some species can live permanently inside buildings and must be treated differently from ants that have merely entered from outside.
It can also become problematic if a nest is located directly inside the building. Possible nesting areas include wall cavities, areas beneath floor coverings, insulation, cracks in the building, or other sheltered cavities.
What can you do about flying ants?
Anyone wondering what they can do about flying ants should first determine whether it is a short-term swarming flight or an actual ant infestation.
For individual flying ants, simple measures can help at first:
- keep windows and doors closed during a heavy swarming flight
- install fly screens
- remove individual ants
- seal food well
- remove crumbs and other food residues
- check joints and possible entry points
- observe whether additional wingless ants or ant trails appear
These measures are often sufficient if only individual insects have entered the building from outside.
How to control ants in the house: Make the right decision
Not every ant sighting immediately requires bait or another control product. First, check how many ants are present, where they are coming from, and whether there is an ant trail.
Among other things, the German Environment Agency recommends keeping food out of ants' reach. A suitable bait can be used if there is an ant trail in the house. If the infestation persists, the ant species should be identified by a professional pest controller and then treated specifically.
| Observation | First Action | When bait should be considered | When professional help should be considered |
| Individual flying ants at the window or patio door | Remove the insects and close the windows and doors or secure them with insect screens | Normally not necessary as long as no other ants are appearing inside the building | If larger numbers repeatedly appear indoors over an extended period |
| Many flying ants are entering the house from outside at the same time | Keep windows and doors closed during the nuptial flight and remove the insects | Generally not necessary if no ant trail or colony is visible inside the building | If it is unclear whether the insects are actually coming from outside |
| Many flying ants are coming from a crack or wall | Observe the point of emergence and check whether workers (wingless ants) are also visible | If an ant colony or clear trails are identified, a suitable bait may be considered | In the event of repeated mass emergence or an inaccessible nest |
| In addition to flying ants, there is a clearly visible ant trail | Remove food sources, seal food, and check trails and entry points | A bait suitable for the ant species and area of application may be useful here | If activity continues despite measures or the species cannot be reliably identified |
| Flying ants appear in the same place every year | Inspect the site where they were found and potential nesting areas more closely | If a colony is confirmed and the species is suitable for bait treatment | If the nest is suspected to be inside the building structure or is inaccessible |
|
Very small or unusual flying ants in heated rooms |
Do not treat hastily; determine the species first if possible | Only select a suitable and approved bait once the species has been reliably identified | If the ant species is unclear or problematic, determine it as early as possible |
Important: This table is a general decision-making aid for ants indoors. In the case of flying ants, it should also be taken into account that individual insects may enter buildings from outside during their natural swarming flight.
Controlling flying ants: What really works?
Anyone wishing to control flying ants should not focus only on the winged insects themselves. They may be a visible sign that an ant colony is located nearby.
If only individual insects are removed, an existing colony remains.
In the case of a distinct ant trail, ant baits may be a suitable measure. The workers consume the bait and transport it to the nest. The German Environment Agency explicitly names bait stations as a possible control measure for an ant trail inside a house.
It should always be ensured that the product is suitable and authorized for the respective ant species, the intended area of use, and the user category.
Solution for ant infestations: Advion Ant Gel
For professional users, Advion Ant Gel can be used for suitable ant species and in accordance with the product authorization.
The ready-to-use bait gel contains 0.05% indoxacarb. The ants consume the bait and carry it into the colony. The product is intended for various indoor and outdoor areas, among others. According to the current Kaeferlingpro product page, it is intended exclusively for professional users.
Advion Ant Gel may be particularly useful for:
- distinct ant trails
- recurring ant activity
- ants at joints and entry points
- localized trails
- a confirmed infestation with a suitable target species
Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.
What works better against flying ants than spray?
Many people initially reach for a contact spray when dealing with flying ants. However, this primarily treats the insects that are directly reached. If a colony is hidden, its cause is not automatically eliminated.
If an ant trail is present, an appropriate baiting strategy can therefore be useful. Worker ants take up the bait and carry it back to the colony.
Which product is suitable always depends on the ant species, area of application, and authorization.
If bait is used, no measures should be taken directly next to it that could deter the ants from the bait or prevent them from consuming it. The instructions for the product used are always decisive.
Home remedies for flying ants - useful or not?
For individual flying ants that have merely entered through a window, no control product is often needed at all.
Home remedies may temporarily keep ants away from certain areas or alter their paths. However, they do not necessarily eliminate an existing nest.
If ants keep appearing or a clear ant trail forms, the cause should therefore be identified first.
Prevent flying ants
Natural nuptial flights cannot be prevented. However, the risk of ants regularly entering the building or finding easily accessible food sources there can be reduced.
Useful measures include:
- Use insect screens on windows and doors
- Check and seal cracks, joints, and gaps
- Keep food sealed
- Dispose of waste regularly
- Do not leave pet food out unnecessarily
- Remove crumbs and sticky food residue
- Repair moisture damage
- Monitor ant trails early on
The German Environment Agency also recommends keeping food well sealed and preventing moisture damage.
Conclusion: Flying ants are often harmless - recurring sightings should be investigated
Flying ants are part of the natural life cycle of many ant species. In the garden or outdoors, they are usually visible only for a limited time.
Even individual ants at the window do not automatically mean there is an ant infestation.
However, if larger numbers regularly appear in the house, ants are coming directly from joints or building components, or there are also clearly visible ant trails, the cause should be investigated more closely.
The following applies: First determine the situation and, if possible, the ant species - then select the appropriate control method.
Frequently asked questions about flying ants and ants in the house
What works best against ants in the house?
First, determine where the ants are coming from. Food should be kept sealed, crumbs and other food sources removed, and possible entry points checked.
If an ant trail is present, a suitable ant bait may be useful. Which product is suitable depends on the ant species, the place of use, and the applicable authorization.
You can find suitable products for ant control in our ant categoryDo individual flying ants in the house need to be controlled?
Not necessarily. Individual winged ants can enter the house through open windows or doors during the swarming season.
In this case, it is usually sufficient to remove the ants and then observe whether more ants or ant trails appear.
Are many flying ants in the house a sign of a nest?
It is possible, but not automatically the case.
If large numbers repeatedly emerge from the same crack, wall, or skirting board, you should check whether a colony is located there or in the immediate vicinity. Individual ants at an open window, on the other hand, may have entered from outside during the nuptial flight.
Is bait or spray better for ants?
It depends on the situation.
A contact spray mainly treats animals reached directly. For an ant trail, a suitable bait may be useful because workers can take it up and carry it to the colony.
Which product may be used depends on the ant species, area of application, and product authorization.
When should you call a pest controller for ants?
Professional help should be considered especially if the infestation persists despite your own measures, the ant species cannot be reliably identified, or the nest is inaccessible.
For certain problematic species, the German Environment Agency also recommends professional control.
Black garden ant or pharaoh ant? Make the right decision with expert knowledge
When ants are found in a home or business, reliable species identification is crucial. While some ants merely enter from outside, other species can live permanently in warm indoor areas and require a specific approach.
Our guide to correct identification
In the online training course “Expertise: Ants”, you will learn:
- Identify important ant species and derive a suitable control strategy
- Systematically inspect and assess an ant infestation
- Select suitable products specifically
- Avoid typical mistakes when controlling ants
- Classify prevention and follow-up measures correctly
Book the online training course “Expertise: Ants” now and assess ant infestations competently.
Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.
