June 8th, 2018 by Chris Chapman

Flying pests to cause havoc across the country thanks to warm weather

Flying ants are often mistaken for a different species from colony ants, but they aren't! The abnormally warm spring weather has seen a sharp increase in insect populations, which could lead to a swarm of 50 billion flying ants emerging across the country this summer, experts say. Pest control callouts to deal with ant infestations have increased by 150% this spring, leading experts to predict the so-called “flying ant day” – the period in which flying ants appear across the country en masse – to be bigger than expected. The baking heat experienced by large parts of the UK through April and May could also bring forward the “flying ant day” period (which actually lasts around 2 weeks) to June, rather than July when it normally occurs. Flying ants are the same species as the colony ants that we also see every summer. Their wings allow them to leave the colony and mate when conditions are right. Ants find it easier to survive in the warmth of the summer, meaning their numbers are highly likely to be increased this year. Once the flying ants have mated, they will found a new colony in a warm area that’s close to a food source, meaning that Britain’s gardens, kitchens, and driveways are prime targets.

How to Prevent and Get Rid of an Ant Infestation

Ant bait stations are a great way to quickly wipe out ant colonies even if you don't know where they are Ants are attracted to warmth and anything that could be considered a food source. This means you are advised to keep your house, and especially your kitchen, clean. Be careful to dispose of food waste properly and try to keep bins a good distance away from your house if possible. Avoid leaving dirty washing up and food waste in your kitchen. Use an ant bait station around your bins. Ant bait stations contain sugary poison tablets that ants will carry back to their colony, destroying them. You can also use ant killing powders and sprays to exterminate ant colonies directly. Use them liberally around corners and cracks in your house, around your bins, and on cracks between paving slabs.