What is the difference between flying ants and carpenter ants? (foundation, windows)

[atokelly]

I have flying ants in my house. After searching the internet I found that they look exactly like female carpenter ants. The exterminator was here today and said that they are just regular flying ants not carpenter ants. Does anyone know the difference, I can't find them on the internet?

[Cosmic]

Not all carpenter ants can fly. Only those qualified and holding a license.

They are like many insects, divided by function. Some can fly, some can not that is within the same nest. Those that can fly are the ones that get to have the fun breeding.

The general rule about carpenter ants, never have a water source for them and you never have a problem. With out a leak or some type of damp spot, they can not exist in your house. Will have to fly or maybe walk away.

If you see one with a small tool bag, usually hammer, hand saw, etc, you know for sure it is a carpenter ant.

[cdelena]

Some ants fly in the spring to establish a new colony. All that I have seen flying have been carpenter ants.

[harry chickpea]

Get a new exterminator. You have ants flying in your house and he says they are just regular? Think he would try to pull that with Donald Trump? Ants are not regularly found flying around in houses. Unless you have an ant farm, ants in a house are pests.

[Arcticthaw]

Read up on carpenter ants, and yes get a new exterminator. You will need to spray or treat all buildings, sheds, and outbuildings.

If you don't mind a pesticide. The Hot Shot brand of ant and roach killer that claims to be good for 13 days worked well for me last year. I had at least one colony in the green house and they traveled to the house and maybe from the nearby spruce trees. I live in a natural surrounded area and there seems to be suficient water to keep them happy. The foundation is also sprayed with foam which they like to burrow into. IF it ever quits snowing I will be on ant patrol to ensure I removed all the problems I had last year.

Good luck.

[BuffaloTransplant]

Carpenter ants fly in spring to make new colonies. Find a new exterminator.

[Ashburnite]

Just the other day we had either winged ants or termites in our house. I Googled and determined that they were (fortunately) winged ants, not termites. I sprayed Raid on the baseboards and around the windows where I saw them and they immediately died. It's been about four days and I haven't seen them since. If you can find where they are coming in and spray it that might solve your problem. If you think it's a larger issue contact a good exterminator.

And thank you Cosmic, for your funny yet helpful post. :-)

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distrib...ing/m1166.html

Flying Ants, Winged Termites, Winged Ants, Flying Termite

[brien51]

Ashburnite;

Using Raid willl only keep them from entering at that position in the house. They will find another way in to "forage" for food for the colony. You will now have to find them again because they are still alive and well in their colony.

I have used this organic remedy twice in 2 separate places and it has worked great to wipe out the colony.

First you have to understand how carpenter ants colonize, Think of their nests as a wheel with spokes and a hub in the middle. First they develop the hub and then uses spoke like routes to establish satellite colonies.'

The organic poison I make is very simple. I use one teaspoon powedered Borax soap powder and mix it with maple syrup, you can even use simple sugar syrup. Mix it to a thick liquid consistency( I use about 1 tspn of Borax to about two or three tspns of syrup) and pour into a small shallow dish. I used the cap from a peanut butter jar. Place the dish where you see the ants coming and going making sure that your pets and babies can't have access to it.

If you see them in the kitchen, you can place it deep in the cabinet underneath your sink or even on the counter way over in a corner.. If you see them outside, place it on a window sill making sure it won't fall off and keeping it level. Check it after a few hours or after overnight and you will see them feeding in the dish. They will actually station a few ants at the dish to suck up the sweet mix and then transfer it by mouth to mouth to other carrier" ants who then take it back to the colonly. The carriers will feed it to the queen who will die within 24 hrs. Problem solved.

Grease ants, those little guys you sometimes see in the kicthen are less of a threat to your home than carpenter ants, but they are still a nusience. I use a teaspoon of Borax powder and mix it with a teapsoon of honey, and then fold it into some peanut butter. The grease ants love it and it will also wipe them out within 24 hrs. Take the same precautions with pets and babies.

These methods work great and are so much less expensive than an exterminator and certainly less dangerous than the poisons the pros use. If you have heavy infestation, you may need the pro, but try the organic way first to see if it works for you. It will cost a few dollars for the Borax soap powder and the syrup and you can use both in your every day living anyway.

Good luck

[jonjen25]

I love the organic approach! Will it kill roaches too?

[BuffaloTransplant]

Originally Posted by jonjen25

I love the organic approach! Will it kill roaches too?

My grandmother used it : boric acid powder just in water. Worked fine on cockroaches. She got a new refrigerator and the old one was taken away: they came with the NEW one!! 0I guess they were in the warehouse or truck)