
Having an ant infestation in your home is bad enough. That is why it’s more troubling when the ants sprout wings and fly around your house. That sounds like a nightmare that came to life.
Flying ants tend to appear out of nowhere. And you won’t find only one most of the time because they’ll typically appear in swarms, which can intimidate people.
But with so many flying ants swarming in your home, you can’t help but wonder where they originated. So in this article, you’ll get to answer how flying ants get in your house.
Ants can be bothersome when they come inside your home. And they become even more of a nuisance when they fly. They can enter your home via:
- Cracks and crevices
- Windows
- Doors
And some of the reasons why they enter are because of the following:
- Heat and light
- Sweet food
- High places
- Decaying wood
Fortunately, you can prevent them by:
- Sealing the cracks and crevices.
- Installing insect screens.
- Spraying natural or chemical repellents.
Suppose you are wondering how and why flying ants are inside your home. And you want to prevent them. The information below should help.
3 Ways Flying Ants Enter Your Home
One of the things that ants are good at is that they always find a way to get inside places they are not supposed to be. It’s like they have superpowers.
Following their trail will tell you how they entered your home.
Below are the three typical ways flying ants enter your home:
1. Cracks and Crevices

When ants appear out of nowhere in your room, they probably come from the cracks and crevices on your walls or floorboards. Ants are tiny insects. So, if there are tiny openings inside your house, they’ll most likely use them.
2. Windows

If you open your windows during warm nights, flying ants will most likely enter your home. There are plenty of things in your home that can attract insects. And flying ants are no exception.
3. Doors

Another large opening that ants can use to enter your home is through your doors. If you leave your doors at night, you’ll invite flying ants to enter.
Why Are There Flying Ants Inside My Home
Typically, ants like to stay outside, where they build their colonies. But why do they like to go inside?
1. Heat and Light

Flying ants like to come out at dusk on warm nights. And they are attracted to the light and heat of your home. That is why you’ll mostly find them flying around your exterior lights and indoor ones if they can find a way inside your home.
2. Presence of Sweet Foods

Ants get out of their colony to forage for food. What they like the most are sweet foods. So, if they are inside your home, they must be attracted to the sweet food lying around.
The flying ant’s only purpose is to mate. They need to set up a colony near a good food source. So if you find one ant, ensure that you tightly seal your sugar and honey in containers.
Clean your dinner table and throw away leftover food immediately.
3. Higher Is Better

Flying ants love to be in high places. So you’ll mostly find them swarming around treetops, windows on two-story houses, towers, and chimneys.
It would be best to ensure no cracks and crevices inside the building, which may cause problems if the ants build their nest there.
4. There Is Decaying Wood

Another reason there may be flying ants inside your home could be because there is decaying wood somewhere. And it’s probably hidden under your floors or in the walls near ground level.
Flying ants are not termites, so they will not eat the decaying wood. Instead, a species of ant called the carpenter ant like carving out galleries and tunnels inside the wood to make a nest.
So, if there are flying carpenter ants inside your home, there could be something wrong with the structural integrity of your home.
How Do You Prevent Flying Ants?
If you don’t want flying ants to enter your home, below are three ways to prevent them.
1. Seal the Cracks of Your Home

Even if you don’t have any colonies in your home, it would still be best to seal the cracks in your windows, baseboards, and walls. It will prevent future flying ant invaders in your home.
Caulk any areas you find where pests can make their way inside.
2. Install Insect Screens

As was said, flying ants like to come out on warm nights. If you don’t have any air-conditioning in your home, you will need to open your doors and windows, letting the ants enter.
So, to prevent that, it would be best to install insect screens on your windows and doors.
3. Spray Repellents for Extra Protection

It’s difficult to determine if you have sealed all the ant entrances in your home.
So to put a little extra protection, mix equal parts vinegar and water or one tablespoon of boric acid powder with a cup of water, and spray the solution to where you find a swarm coming out.
These solutions can erase the scent trails of ants. And they’ll have difficulty finding their way to your home.
Conclusion
Ants can be a nuisance to your home. That is why it’s much worse when they fly around your home. They get into your house through the cracks and crevices on your walls and floors, through your open windows and doors.
So, you’ll need to seal the openings and install screens to prevent them from entering your house. If you know anyone having flying ant problems, share this article with them to tell them how and why flying ants get into their house and what they can do to prevent them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Flying Ants Cause Damage?
Most flying ants cannot cause damage. However, be cautious when they are inside your home. Flying ants are the reproductive units of the colony. So it could be a sign of an infestation in your home.
Carpenter ants are the most common species of ant that can cause structural damage. So if you spot them, call an exterminator immediately to let them assess the situation. The structural integrity of your home could be compromised.
Can Queen Ants Fly?
When a female flying ant becomes a queen, it will lose its wings. Instead, they’ll spend their lives underground, laying eggs for the colony. So they won’t have any use for their wings.
How Long Can Flying Ants Live?
Male flying ants can live anywhere from a couple of hours to weeks. However, since females will become queens, they can live anywhere from 10 to 30 years.