Ants with wings – What species is this?

In fact, it could be any species of ant, as all queens and males have wings.

Queens only have wings when they are young, when they leave the anthill where they were raised to mate, so males are always winged, but their goal is the same: to disperse and mate.

What we see when winged ants appear is the massive dispersal of newly formed queens and males in what is known as the nuptial flight. Mating also takes place in flight, after which the queens seek suitable locations to establish new colonies and lose their wings, as they no longer need them and will spend the next few years busy laying eggs for new ants. The males do not lose their wings, but only survive for another two or three weeks after the nuptial flight.

This phenomenon of winged ants appearing in large numbers is evident after rainfall following hot days in early summer or autumn. 

It is important to know the difference between winged ants and termites.

Termites (Cryptotermes brevis) are insects that feed on wood and cellulose-based materials, making them hidden destroyers that reproduce in the structures of domestic, commercial, and industrial buildings.

Termites are easily overlooked, but this pest can cause significant damage, devaluing your property. Most structures can be attacked, with their preferred food being untreated wood, causing damage to structural elements, floors, and baseboards, especially on the upper floors of buildings, putting the foundations at risk and thus your safety.

Drywood termites versus winged ants

The main signs of termite/white ant infestation:

• Discarded wings near windows and doors are often the only visible sign of a drywood termite infestation.

One of the most obvious signs of termites in a home is the appearance of wings between May and October, so if you find wings near windows or in spider webs, it is a sign that you have had termites in your home for at least 4 years!

• Wood that is soft and hollow when touched, or dark pieces of wood and bubbles;
• Uneven or bubbling paint is often a sign of moisture accumulation, which can mean one of two things—water damage or termites;
• Light-colored droppings that resemble wood shavings inside or outside the building.

The appearance of a kind of granulate near baseboards, under furniture, among other places, consists of termite feces, which can appear in different shades, whitish, yellowish, reddish, or black, depending on the type of wood the termites consume. 

It is important to differentiate between termite droppings and woodworm infestation, as the latter is indicated by the presence of a bran-like powder, while termite droppings resemble sugar grains.

Termites need three things to survive: moisture, food, and protection.

When these conditions are present, termite activity can not only occur but also thrive.

We must therefore try to eliminate these conditions in order to reduce the possibility of termite activity around or in our homes.

Woodforever is a registered trademark of Grupo Exterminio for treatment, coating, and preservation of wood, using certified and proven solutions, with the aim of innovating and promoting the use of wood as an environmentally friendly resource.

Woodforever offers a range of innovative, efficient and certified services and products against biological agents that destroy wood, including woodworms, termites, drywood termites, and fungi.

We specialize in the maintenance and restoration of wooden surfaces, including the control of wood-eating insects.

We have an experienced and skilled team equipped with the latest technologies for on-site inspection and the application of wood preservative biocides.

Contact us for any infestation situation and we will provide the best solution for each case.