Flying Ant Exterminator: When to Call One in Canada and What to Expect

TL;DR

• Call an exterminator when the swarm points to a nest inside your home, to carpenter ants or to termites.
• Hundreds of winged ants indoors almost always mean the colony is inside the house. Flying ants in winter usually mean an indoor infestation too.
• Only a few, outdoors or near an open door in spring, with no sawdust and no ants inside the rest of the year? You can usually handle it yourself. Fewer than 10 swarmers indoors are likely strays from an outdoor colony, so watch for more activity.
• Professional control targets the colony, often with slow-acting baits. It can take 5 to 10 days to see fewer ants and several weeks or more for full control (UC IPM).
• Check the provincial licence, ask for a written plan that targets the nest, and compare companies.
• Need help? Get a quote from a recommended local exterminator through Pest Agent's referral form.

A cloud of winged ants at the living room window on a warm afternoon looks like an invasion, and the first urge is to call a flying ant exterminator before the vacuum is even out. How many you count says more than the shock does: a handful indoors are often strays from an outdoor colony, while hundreds inside almost certainly mean the nest is in the walls, in rotten wood or under the slab.

Season and shape refine the picture. Large dark winged ants indoors in winter point to a nest inside the house, and loose wings on a sill could also belong to termites, which live in parts of eastern Canada and British Columbia. Every swarm, whatever its size, comes from a colony that has been growing out of sight for years.

What Are Flying Ants?

Flying ants are the winged queens and males of an ant colony, sent out to mate and start new colonies. They are not a separate species: most ant species found in Canada start new colonies this way, once a colony is mature enough. Seeing them tells you a colony is nearby. Where that colony is decides whether you need a flying ant exterminator.

Why Ants Swarm

Ants swarm to reproduce. According to Iowa State University Extension, swarmers are queen and male ants that fly out to start new colonies, and all colonies of the same species in an area swarm at the same time. That is why you can see hundreds of winged ants appear in one afternoon. After mating, the males die, and each new queen sheds her wings, finds a nest site and starts laying eggs.

When Flying Ants Appear in Canada

Flying ants appear in Canada mostly during the warm weather of spring and early summer. Orkin Canada reports that swarmers typically emerge between April and June. Carpenter ants follow this pattern: according to the University of Arkansas, their winged ants are produced in late summer, spend the winter inside the colony and fly the following spring or early summer. Some other species swarm later in the summer.

Which Flying Ants Are Common in Canada

Carpenter ants are the flying ants that matter most in Canadian homes, because Health Canada notes they can damage wood to make room for their nests. A Metro Vancouver pest control company quoted in local news says flying ants in early spring are most likely carpenter ants, while winged ants in late spring or summer are more often odorous house ants, pavement ants, thatching ants or field ants. Citronella ants, yellow ants that smell of citrus when crushed, can also swarm indoors in warm months (Abell Pest Control).

How to Tell Flying Ants From Termites

Flying ants differ from termites in three ways you can check with a magnifying glass, according to Mississippi State University Extension:

• Wings: ant front wings are longer than the hind wings; termite front and hind wings are the same length.
• Waist: ants have a narrow, pinched waist; termites have a thick body with no waist.
• Antennae: ant antennae are bent like an elbow; termite antennae are straight and beaded.

Both shed their wings soon after swarming, so loose wings on a windowsill can belong to either. Termites do live in Canada: the eastern subterranean termite is found in many populated areas of eastern Canada, including more than 30 Ontario municipalities, and two species are native to British Columbia (The Canadian Encyclopedia, Township of Centre Wellington).

When Should You Call a Flying Ant Exterminator?

A flying ant exterminator is worth calling when the swarm points to a nest inside your home, to carpenter ants or to termites. Use the signs below to decide.

Hundreds of Winged Ants Indoors

Hundreds of winged ants indoors almost always mean the colony is inside the house, in a wall, in rotten wood or under the slab, according to Iowa State University Extension. Winged ants that come out of a baseboard, an outlet or a crack in the floor are a strong sign of an indoor nest. This is the clearest case for a professional, because the nest is hidden and the colony is large enough to reproduce.

Flying Ants in Winter

Flying ants in winter usually mean an indoor infestation. Most Canadian swarms happen in spring and early summer, so winged ants in your living room in January most likely come from a colony living in your heated house (Orkin Canada, University of Minnesota Extension).

Signs of Carpenter Ants

Signs of carpenter ants alongside a swarm make a professional inspection a good idea. Health Canada says piles of sawdust may mean carpenter ants. The University of Arkansas also lists large dark ants indoors, coarse sawdust-like borings near window frames, porches, garages or basements, and swarms of large black winged ants. Some people also hear a faint rustling inside walls (Abell Pest Control).

A carpenter ant swarm also tells you the colony is old. The University of Arkansas notes that carpenter ant colonies do not produce winged ants until they are 6 to 10 years old and hold about 2,000 workers. Read more about the signs of carpenter ants in your house and what carpenter ant pest control involves.

Possible Termites

Possible termites always justify a professional inspection. Iowa State University Extension calls winged termites a strong sign that a termite colony may be eating the wood of the house. If the wings are all the same length and the bodies have no waist, ask for a company that also inspects for termites. In Ontario, termite work is a separate licence class from general structural pest control.

Ants That Keep Coming Back

Ants that keep coming back after store-bought treatments often mean there is more than one nest. Carpenter ants build a parent colony and satellite nests (University of Arkansas), and the City of Calgary warns that some barrier sprays can make a colony split into new nests. A professional can map the trails and treat each nest.

When You Can Handle It Yourself

You can usually handle flying ants yourself when you see only a few, outdoors or near an open door in spring, with no sawdust and no ants inside the rest of the year. Iowa State University Extension says fewer than 10 swarmers indoors are likely strays from an outdoor colony, and suggests simply watching for more activity. Our guide on how to get rid of flying ants covers the do-it-yourself steps.

How Does Professional Flying Ant Control Work?

Professional flying ant control targets the colony and its queens, not the winged ants you see. Killing the swarmers does nothing to the nest that produced them. Most Canadian companies follow the same steps, whatever they call their program.

Inspection

Inspection comes first. The technician looks for trails, entry points, moisture problems and nest sites in the walls, floors, attic, basement and yard. Orkin Canada calls this the Assess step of its Assess, Implement, Monitor approach, and Pesticon describes mapping trails, entry points and nests, including wall voids and slabs.

Species Identification

Species identification decides the treatment. A carpenter ant colony in a damp window frame, a pavement ant colony under a slab and a termite colony call for very different methods and even different licences. A good technician confirms the species before treating anything.

Finding the Nest

Finding the nest is the hardest part of flying ant control. Carpenter ants are most active at night, so professionals often follow them back after dark, and they check wood dampened by leaks first, because that is where carpenter ants prefer to nest (University of Arkansas). Ants seen inside may also be foraging from a nest outdoors, in a stump or under a deck.

Baits

Baits are often the main tool. Workers carry a slow-acting bait back to the nest and share it with the queens and larvae. UC IPM notes it can take 5 to 10 days to see fewer ants and several weeks or more for full control. To learn which products and active ingredients are used, see what professionals use to kill ants.

Wall Void Treatment

Wall void treatment reaches nests hidden inside walls. The technician drills small holes and puffs an insecticide dust such as boric acid into the void. The University of Arkansas advises treating at least 3 to 6 feet (about 1 to 2 metres) on either side of the spot where ants enter the wall, to be sure of reaching the nest. Our guide to ants in walls explains this problem in more detail.

Sprays

Sprays play a smaller role than many people expect. UC IPM says perimeter sprays kill only foraging ants, not the colony and its queens, and recommends asking a company for baits and spot treatments rather than monthly perimeter sprays. Sprays also spoil baits: the University of Arkansas warns that spraying ants or bait makes the bait unacceptable to them.

Sealing Entry Points

Sealing entry points keeps new colonies out once the nest is gone. Carpenter ants usually enter around foundations and windows (University of Arkansas), so companies seal cracks, gaps around pipes and wires, and damaged weather-stripping, and point out moisture problems to fix.

Follow-Up Visits

Follow-up visits confirm the colony is gone. Many Canadian companies schedule at least one return visit, and some re-treat for free if ants come back within a set period. Ask how the follow-up works before you book.

How Do You Choose a Flying Ant Exterminator in Canada?

Choosing a flying ant exterminator in Canada starts with a provincial licence and a written plan that targets the nest. Prices vary, so compare at least two or three companies.

Provincial Licence

A provincial licence is required to apply pesticides for pay. In Ontario, anyone who performs extermination needs an exterminator licence, and the business needs an operator licence, which must be displayed at each business location. In British Columbia, technicians need a structural pesticide applicator certificate, and certificates from other provinces are not automatically valid there. Ask for the licence number and check it with your province.

Registered Products

Registered products carry a PCP registration number on the label, which means Health Canada has approved them under the Pest Control Products Act. Health Canada advises asking a professional about the preparation, the treatment plan and the registered pesticides they will use, and when it is safe to go back into treated rooms, especially with children or pets.

Written Treatment Plan

A written treatment plan shows the company understood your problem. It should name the species, where the nest is or is thought to be, the method (bait, dust, spot spray), how many visits are included and what you need to do to prepare.

Warranty

A warranty tells you what happens if ants come back. Orkin Canada offers free re-treatment with conditions, such as following its sanitation and structural advice, and Pesticon advertises a 100-day warranty with free re-treatment. Read the conditions before you sign.

Cost

The cost of flying ant control depends on the species, the number of nests and where you live. As examples, Toronto company Pesticon says most residential treatments range between $150 to $300, and the HomeStars price guide reports about $150 to $500 for an average ant treatment, with carpenter ant work reaching $800 or more. Prices vary, so get a written quote. For more detail, read our guide to ant exterminator costs in Canada and our overview of ant pest control services.

Questions to Ask

Questions to ask a flying ant exterminator before you hire:

1. Which species do you think this is, and how will you confirm it?
2. Where do you think the nest is, and how will you find it?
3. Will you use baits, dust or sprays, and which registered products?
4. How many visits are included, and how long until the ants are gone?
5. What do I need to do before and after treatment?
6. Is there a warranty, and what are its conditions?
7. Can you inspect for termites if needed?

You can also get a quote from a recommended local exterminator through Pest Agent's referral form.

What Should You Do Before and After the Exterminator Visit?

Before the exterminator arrives, the most useful things you can do are remove the swarmers without spraying and keep the evidence. These steps make the inspection faster and the treatment more accurate.

Vacuum the Swarmers

Vacuuming is the simplest way to deal with winged ants indoors. The University of Wisconsin calls vacuuming winged ants as they appear the easiest and most environmentally friendly option, and notes that some swarms last only three to four days. Empty the vacuum outside when you are done.

Skip the Spray

Skip the can of insecticide while you wait. Spraying swarmers does not reach the colony, can spoil the baits the technician may use, and can make some colonies scatter into new nests (UC IPM, University of Arkansas, City of Calgary).

Keep a Few Samples

Keep a few winged ants in a sealed bag or jar, along with a few wingless workers if you find any. Samples help the technician confirm whether you have carpenter ants, another ant or termites.

Note Where They Came Out

Note where the swarm came from: a window frame, a baseboard, an outlet, a crack in the slab. Write down the date and time, and take photos. This points the technician straight to the area to inspect. Our checklist on how to prepare for an ant exterminator covers the rest.

Prevention After Treatment

Prevention after treatment comes down to moisture, cracks and food. Fix leaks and damp wood that attract carpenter ants, seal visible cracks in the foundation and exterior walls, and store sweet or greasy food in sealed containers, as Health Canada recommends. For more on ants by species, browse the Pest Agent ant hub.