Winged ants – What species are they?

In many ant species, males and future queens have wings during the reproductive stage. Workers are wingless.

In species that have a nuptial flight, winged males and future queens leave the nest to mate. After mating, queens generally shed their wings and look for a place to establish a colony. Some species form new colonies through other processes, such as budding. (University of Minnesota.)

What we see when winged ants appear is the mass dispersal of newly formed queens and males in what is known as the nuptial flight. Mating also takes place in flight. Afterwards, the queens look for suitable places to establish new colonies and lose their wings, as they no longer need them and will spend the next few years laying eggs to produce new ants. Males generally die shortly after mating; their lifespan varies with the species.

This phenomenon, in which large numbers of winged ants appear, is evident after rainfall that follows 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 within the structures of residential, commercial and industrial premises.

Termites are easily overlooked; however, this pest can cause extensive damage and reduce the value of your property. Most structures can be attacked, and their preferred food is untreated wood, causing damage to structural elements, floors and skirting boards, especially on the upper floors of buildings (Cryptotermes brevis), potentially weakening the affected wooden elements. An inspection is needed to assess the extent of the damage.

Drywood termites versus winged ants

The main signs of a termite/white ant infestation:

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

Discarded wings near windows or in spider webs can indicate the presence of termites. Colonies take several years to produce winged reproductives, but these can also arrive from elsewhere. Finding wings therefore does not, by itself, establish how long a home has been infested or the extent of an infestation. Species identification and an inspection help confirm the source of the signs. (University of the Azores; UC IPM.)

• Wood that feels soft and hollow when touched, or dark patches and blisters in the wood;
• Uneven or bubbling paint is often a sign of moisture build-up, which can mean one of two things – water damage or termites;
• Small faecal pellets of varying colour, which may accumulate near the wood.

The appearance of small granules near skirting boards, under furniture and in other places consists of termite droppings, which can have different shades, including whitish, yellowish, reddish or black, depending on the type of wood the termites consume. 

It is important to distinguish termite droppings from signs of woodworm: the latter is revealed by the presence of a bran-like powder, whereas the granules in termite droppings look more like grains of sugar.

Termites need 3 things to survive: moisture, food and protection.

Moisture requirements vary by species. Drywood termites can live inside apparently dry wood without contact with soil or an external water source. (UF/IFAS, University of Florida.)

Fixing leaks and other favourable conditions is important, but the absence of visible moisture does not rule out drywood termites. Prevention should include timber inspections and species identification.

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Woodforever offers a range of innovative, efficient and certified services and products against biological agents that destroy wood, including woodworm, termites or white ants, and fungi.

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Contact us about any infestation and we will present the best solution for each case.