Flying ants are not a distinct animal species. This pest is actually a member of another ant species, and varieties of winged ants appear in a short time when the ants are in the mating season. A few flying ants that are seen or roaming around can usually be ignored. However, invasion or disturbance of the ant colony can be a bigger problem and in this case, it is understandable if you want to kill flying ants. You can kill any flying ants you see or attack the colony directly.
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Part 1 of 2: Killing Ants One By One
Step 1. Use a commercial aerosol product
There are a variety of insect repellent products that can be used to kill all types of ants, and anti-ant spray products are effective at killing flying ants. In order to kill flying ants, choose a product with a nozzle that is easy to point at the target.
- Always follow the instructions on the packaging label so that you can prevent accidental misuse of the product (and potential harm to others and yourself).
- Do not direct insect venom at other people or pets.
- Make sure the product you choose is safe to use indoors if you want to get rid of flying ants in your home.
- Make sure the product you choose can be used legally in your city/area.
Step 2. Make a natural peppermint spray
Peppermint oil can kill flying ants by suffocating them. You can mix this oil with water and dish soap in a spray bottle to make your own natural insecticide spray mix.
Mix liquid dish soap and water in a 1:2 ratio in a spray bottle, then add a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Shake the bottle to mix all the ingredients. Spray this mixture on any flying ants that are visible, whether they are perched or flying
Step 3. Spray dish soap on the ants
Dish soap itself is actually effective in getting rid of flying ants because the particles will stick to the ant's body and cause dehydration which can lead to death. To make an easy-to-use mixture for getting rid of flying ants, mix dish soap with water in a regular spray bottle.
Fill the bottle with water and add enough dish soap. Mix all the ingredients until the soap dissolves and mixes evenly with the water. Spray this mixture on flying or perched ants
Step 4. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is suitable for killing ants because it can cause dehydration which can lead to death. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around food sources. If an ant steps on it, its body will be impaled by small, jagged particles or grains of soil. In the end, the ants will die from these injuries.
- Choose food quality diatomaceous earth to be safe to use around children and pets.
- Sprinkle soil in areas where ants are likely to come. The closer the area you choose to sprinkle the soil to the food source, the better it will be effective because flying ants usually land right next to the food, and not in areas farther away.
- Do not wet diatomaceous earth. Make sure the soil is always dry for the sharp grains to work effectively.
- Since the ants need to pass through the ground directly, there is no guarantee that the soil will kill flying ants effectively. Flying ants can find other ways to reach the food source without passing through the diatomaceous earth surrounding the food. However, you can still try using diatomaceous earth, as it is a powerful ant repellent.
Step 5. Purchase an insect sting device
This device can eradicate various types of flying insects, including flying ants. Install the device in places where flying ants usually go and let the device work.
- When you want to hang the stinger, install the device in an open area where insects can easily enter. In addition, it is important that you keep your device out of the reach of pets or children. Although the electricity generated by the device is usually not strong enough to harm large pets (eg dogs or cats) or children, the shocks they produce can still be painful.
- Insect stingers can attract flying ants.
- Follow the instructions for use carefully so that you don't use it in a dangerous way.
Step 6. Trap the ants using adhesive tape
Stick adhesive tape around food sources. When the ant lands on the ribbon, its body will be stuck and it cannot fly.
- To be effective, position the tape with the sticky side facing up, and place it as close to the food source as possible. Flying ants usually won't land on the ribbon if it's not right next to the food.
- Since flying ants move by flying, not walking, this may not be very effective. After all, you can't guarantee that flying ants will land on the tape because technically, these animals can fly through the tape. Even so, the use of adhesive tape can still be tried as an affordable, non-toxic option.
Part 2 of 2: Eradicate the Ant Colony
Step 1. Track the presence of the anthill
To get rid of all flying ants, you need to follow them to their nest. Killing the ant colony can be a more permanent solution.
- Understand that flying ants are the only ant species that are sexually active. In other words, these animals are not a distinct species. When you look at the colony from which the flying ants came from, most of the "members" are wingless ants. If you want to kill flying ants, you need to eradicate the wingless ant colony that the ants are from.
- Follow the ants to their colony by observing them. If you can see an ant nest or mound, you can attack it directly. Otherwise, you can still attack the fly ants at the source by spreading the poison that the flying ants (and the wingless ants) can carry into the colony.
Step 2. Use a commercial pesticide
Ant baits and other types of insect venom are effective at getting rid of flying ants (as long as the product label indicates that the product can be used on ants in general). Look for poisons that ants can carry to their nests, as these are the most potent types of poison.
- Ant bait is one of the most effective ant-killing products, especially if you want to get rid of flying ants. The ants will bring the bait back to the colony. The queen ant will eat the bait and eventually die. After the queen ant dies, the rest of the colony will also die.
- Ant bait is sold in the form of gels, granules, and poison containers (station). Most products are safe to use around pets and children. Even so, try to keep your little one and animals away from the poison.
- Keep in mind that baits may be sugar or protein based, and different bases can attract different species of ants. If one product is not effective, you can try another product.
- Always follow the instructions for use carefully to avoid using the product in a dangerous way.
Step 3. Make a trap using borax and sugar
Borax is highly toxic to ants, but when mixed with a sweet substance, the ants cannot smell the poison and will instead carry the sweet trap back into the colony. The queen and other ants will die when they eat borax.
- Mix borax with sugar in equal proportions. Slowly add water to the mixture and stir constantly until it forms a paste. Apply this paste on a piece of cardboard and place it in an area frequented by flying ants. The ant will be attracted to the pasta and, if it works as expected, it will take the pasta to its colony.
- Keep in mind that the borax paste will dry in a few days so it's a good idea to make more paste if the first try doesn't work right away.
- Be careful when using borax near pets and children as it is also toxic.
Step 4. Prepare boiling water
Once you find an ant colony, pour boiling water over the nest. Ants that are directly exposed to boiling water will burn, and other ants will flee because they feel threatened by your attack.
- The water used should be boiling, and not just hot. Boil as much water as possible in the kettle. When ready, remove the kettle from the stove and take it to the mound or anthill. Pour the water while it is still hot into the nest.
- Place the flowerpot upside down on top of the nest before you kill the ants. Pour hot water into the nest through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. This will trap the ants and protect you from the bites or stings of the ants that manage to escape.
Step 5. Prepare a trap of baking soda and sugar
Baking soda is another ingredient that can be used to kill ants. Mix soda with sugar to mask the poison smell and attract ants to bring the sugar back to the queen and nest. The ants that eat the sugar will eventually die.
The baking soda will react with the acid naturally contained in the ant's body to protect itself. When mixed with these substances, a violent reaction will occur and kill the ants
Step 6. Kill the ants using artificial sweeteners
There are some artificial species that are highly toxic to ants, but their sweet smell can still attract ants. The artificial sweetener products will be carried by the ants to the queen and the nest, and all the ants that eat them will die.
- Some types of artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, are known to be neurotoxins to ants.
- Mix the sweetener with the apple juice. Add enough juice to form a paste. The ants will eat the paste and carry some of it for the colony. After being eaten, the ant population in the colony will decrease drastically.
