What are Black Ants with Wings?
Black ants with wings, or winged ants, are typically male and female reproductive ants that are known as alates. These alates are responsible for the reproduction process and are common to many species of ant, including the well-known black garden ant typically found in gardens across the UK. The alates have four wings, two large and two small, and are light brown in colour with black abdomens.
An expert in the field, Dr. Adrian M. Chip, a professor at the University of Utah, states that winged ants, known as alates, “belong to ants of the family Formicidae, and have an overall body shape that’s very similar to that of worker ants, but reproduce in a unique way.”
During the mating process, these alates fly and mate in mid-air, which is why these ants with wings are so often associated with the family Formicidae, since the wings allow them to complete the reproductive process more successfully. Alates can then successfully find their way to the ground where they can mate and produce more alates.
Once the alates have flown, they shed their wings and adopt the more commonly recognisable ant shape, allowing them to continue living amongst the other colony members. While the female alates will remain with the colony and help to continue the development of the brood, the males will die after anywhere up to twenty-eight days, leaving the female alates to lead the colonies.
Melissa, an entomologist, believes “winged ants are often mistaken for termites or flying ants, but these types of species are actually different to the black ants with wings, as the latter belong to a family of ants who can fly. It is these ants with their characteristic wings that are integral to their formicidae family; without them, the ant would not have the ability to reproduce.”
The fact that these black ants with wings are so critical to the successful operation of their colonies is one of the many reasons why many home and business owners will call a pest control professional when they see them. As the number of alates that can be produced in one single colony can be huge – up to around 20,000 ants – this is the primary way to prevent an ant infestation in the home or workplace.
Are Winged Ants Dangerous?
Due to their ability to mate and reproduce, these alates can cause more than just an annoyance and can become a serious pest problem. However, while they can be dangerous they are usually not harmful to humans. Most ants, including black ants with wings, do not bite and do not sting, and rarely ever cause physical harm to humans.
The main menace of flying ants, however, is that they can cause damage to walls and the foundations of buildings if the colony expands. They can also become infested in certain areas, and if food has been left out and not correctly wrapped up, they can colonise the food and contaminate it.
Highlighting the importance of thorough pest control, Rachel, a specialist in the field of pest control, states: ‘winged ants can cause destruction to wooden beams or other wooden structures if left unchecked. They can also cause damage to plastic fixtures and fittings, as well as pathogenic materials which can lead to infections or diseases. It is therefore crucial to call a pest control professional if you find winged ants in your home.’
It is also essential to take action in the case of winged ants, as the reproductive cycle of these animals can be incredibly fast. Wingless workers are born ready to start the process straight away, and when they gain the capacity to fly and search for a mate, they can rapidly reproduce and create large colonies with up to twenty thousand ants. This is why responding to any sightings of black ants with wings quickly and efficiently is extremely important.
What Attracts Winged Ants?
These winged ants have an excellent sense of smell and can detect different odours from a long distance. As a result, they are attracted to various food types, such as fruits, honeydew produced by insects and sweet sugary substances.
In the opinion of Nicolas, a biologist, this attraction to sweet substances is driven by the want of the ant to gather food for the colony: “When winged ants come into contact with a food source, they will often return to the nest with it, and lay a trail of pheromones that they can follow but the rest of the ants in the colony follow.”
The presence of moisture is another factor which may draw these winged ants towards a location, as wet environments provide an ideal habitat for the species. Home or office buildings which are close to rivers or other watercourses – as well as green spaces of any kind – tend to host more ant colonies, and regular maintenance is essential to prevent a major infestation.
How to Get Rid of Winged Ants
The most important step to take when dealing with ant infestations is the identification of the species. Winged ants are most often confused with flying ants, which are much closer in appearance to termite winged alates. Knowing which type of winged ant has been identified is essential in order to determine the best course of action in getting rid of them.
Once the species has been identified, the experts at the Integrated Pest Management Agency suggest that the only way to get rid of the problem is by the use of chemical methods, such as sprays and baits. These products can be used to quickly kill the alates and eliminate the colony, ensuring a long-term result.
Other non-chemical methods, such as the removal of food sources and keeping areas free of dirt and moisture, can help to reduce the threat of flying ants and to prevent future infestations.
What Do Winged Ants Eat?
Back ant alates have the same diet as most species of ants, being omnivorous and being able to eat various types of food, including fruits, vegetables, sugars, carrion and other insects.
These food sources are essential for the development of the colonies and the reproduction of new alates, so the presence of food – and especially sources of sugar – attract them even more. As with most ants, it is highly recommended not to leave food sources unprotected and to make sure that sweet items, such as honey and sugar, are not left out overnight – or even during the day – as this will draw more ants to the kitchen.
What is the Reproduction Cycle of Winged Ants?
The reproduction cycle of the black ants with wings starts with the emergence of the alates, which can start anywhere between late spring and mid-summer. These winged ants will then look for a mate, and they usually fly in large swarms when they are doing so. Once they have found a mate and laid their eggs, the queen will start to build the nest, which can last between two to four weeks.
The eggs laid by the queen will then take on average around 21 days to hatch, and the larvae that hatch will remain in the nest for another 7 days before they develop into pupae and then, after a further 15 days, into adults. This process can take up to 8 weeks in total.
Once the adults have emerged, the colony will grow rapidly, and the workers will start to gather food and prepare the nest for the new colonial members. By autumn, the colony will have grown exponentially and may contain up to twenty thousand ants.
The winged alates will then usually be seen again in November, when they are ready to mate, although the number of alates will be much lower, since in-fighting will also occur within the colony. These ants will start the process all over again in the following spring, creating a cycle which will continue most of the year, regardless of the weather conditions.
Behaviour of Winged Ants
The behaviour of the black ants with wings is similar to that of the majority of other species of ants, with their main goal being the reproduction of their colonies. As with all ants, once they locate a food source, it is their job to return to the nest and to lay a trail so that the other ants of the colony can follow.
Additionally, when threatened, these colonies will often attack in large groups and can become aggressive in order to protect their nest from danger. They are known to bite when threatened, although this is rarely a serious threat to humans, and damage done to wooden structures by the colony can quickly become extensive when left unchecked.
Finally, black ants with wings, like their relatives, rely heavily on the sun for their energy, and so are more often than not seen basking in the sun in warm climates. This is needed to help increase the body temperature of the ant and to keep them healthy, which is why they can often be found on warmer surfaces close to the nest and in areas of direct sunlight.
Conclusion
Winged ants are a common member of the Formicidae family and can be recognised by their black abdomens and four wings – two large and two small. They have an important role to play in the reproduction process, flying and mating in mid-air and then shedding their wings once they have reached the ground to become part of the colony.
While they do not pose much of a threat to human health, they can cause a nuisance if infestations occur, and can cause damage to structures and contaminate food stores. To prevent this, it is recommended to call a pest control professional and to take action quickly to eliminate the problem.
