Some ants develop wings during certain stages of their life cycle, particularly during the reproductive phase. These winged ants, often referred to as alates, are typically males and future queens. Their wings allow them to leave the nest and participate in mating flights, which help establish new colonies and maintain genetic diversity within populations.
The wings are temporary and usually shed shortly after mating. Once a female mates, she will land, remove her wings, and start a new colony as the queen. Male winged ants, after mating, generally die soon afterward, having completed their primary role in reproduction. This cycle ensures that colonies continue to grow and spread across different areas.
Winged ants often emerge in large numbers during specific times of the year, usually in warm and humid conditions. These synchronized flights, known as nuptial flights, are a spectacular natural phenomenon. During these events, thousands of winged ants may be seen taking to the air at once, increasing the likelihood of successful mating while reducing the risk of predation on any single individual.
The wings themselves are delicate and functional. They allow the ants to travel long distances compared to their wingless counterparts, enabling colonization of new territories. After landing, the loss of wings makes the ants more suited for life on the ground, focusing on colony-building, brood care, or defense.
Ants that Have Wings
Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp.)
The winged reproductive of carpenter ants are among the largest you will encounter. The females (future queens) are massive, often over half an inch long. They typically swarm in the spring, and seeing them indoors is a strong indicator of a mature, established nest within the structure.
Pavement Ants (Tetramorium spp.)
Pavement ants are notorious for their swarming flights, often in late spring or summer. Homeowners frequently see hundreds of small, winged ants emerging from cracks in pavement, driveways, and foundations. The mating swarms can be so dense they are mistaken for clouds of smoke or dust.
Fire Ants (Solenopsis spp.)
Red Imported Fire Ants produce large numbers of winged reproductive. These swarms usually occur one to two days after a rain shower in the spring or fall. The males are completely black, while the females are a reddish-brown, and they are often attracted to pools and other reflective surfaces.
Argentine Ants (Linepithema humile)
This invasive species has a unique social structure with multiple queens and interconnected supercolonies. Because of this, they can produce winged reproductive nearly year-round in mild climates. However, their mating flights are often less conspicuous as they sometimes mate within the nest or very close to it.
Odorous House Ants (Tapinoma sessile)
These common household pests produce winged reproductives that swarm in the spring and early summer. They are small and dark brown. If you crush one, it will emit the characteristic rotten coconut smell that gives the species its name.
Acrobat Ants (Crematogaster spp.)
Winged acrobat ants are recognizable by their heart-shaped abdomens, which they hold up over their heads when disturbed. They typically swarm in the late summer or fall. Finding them inside can indicate a nest in a wall void or in damp wood above a ceiling.
Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp.)
The winged reproductive of carpenter ants are among the largest you will encounter. The females (future queens) are massive, often over half an inch long. They typically swarm in the spring, and seeing them indoors is a strong indicator of a mature, established nest within the structure.
Pharaoh Ants (Monomorium pharaonis)
This tiny, notorious indoor pest produces winged reproductives, but they are rarely seen. This is because Pharaoh ant colonies often bud, meaning new queens simply walk away with a group of workers to start a new nest, making a nuptial flight unnecessary. On the rare occasion they swarm, it is a small, indoor event.
Larger Yellow Ants (Acanthomyops interjectus)
Also known as Citronella Ants, their winged reproductives are famous for their vibrant yellow-orange color and their strong lemony scent, especially when crushed. They typically swarm in large numbers on a warm, sunny day after a rain, often startling homeowners.
Thatching Ants (Formica spp.)
These ants, which build large mounds of thatch, produce winged reproductives that swarm in mid to late summer. The swarms can be massive, involving thousands of individuals from multiple nearby colonies, creating a spectacular event that provides a feast for birds and other insectivores.
Ghost Ants (Tapinoma melanocephalum)
These tiny ants produce winged reproductives that are pale, like the workers, with light-colored wings. Their swarms are usually small and can occur indoors in tropical and greenhouse environments year-round. Finding their winged forms inside is a clear sign of an established indoor nest.
Big-headed Ants (Pheidole spp.)
This genus is known for its distinct major and minor worker castes. Their winged reproductives are typically small and dark, swarming after warm rains. The major workers (soldiers) with their oversized heads can often be seen guarding the nest entrance during the swarm.
Army Ants (Eciton spp.)
In the nomadic phase, army ant colonies produce winged males and new queens. The males are often oddly shaped with small heads and large bodies, while the new queens are wingless. The winged males swarm to find emerging queens from other colonies in one of the insect world’s most synchronized mating events.
Harvester Ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.)
Known for collecting seeds, these ants produce large, reddish winged reproductives. Their nuptial flights are a crucial ecological event in arid regions, often occurring after summer monsoon rains. The flights are a massive food source for lizards, birds, and other insects.
Trap-Jaw Ants (Odontomachus spp.)
The winged reproductives of these formidable predators retain the characteristic long, snapping mandibles. They swarm at dusk or night, and their mating flights are less conspicuous than those of many other ants, likely to avoid a wide range of diurnal predators.
Velvety Tree Ants (Liometopum spp.)
These aggressive, aromatic ants produce winged forms that swarm in the spring. The reproductives are relatively large and dark. Swarms can occur from nests in trees or structures, and the ants are known for their painful bites and strong, unpleasant odor when crushed.
Rover Ants (Brachymyrmex spp.)
The small, soft-bodied rover ants produce tiny winged reproductives. Their swarms can be a nuisance around homes, particularly in the southern United States, with large numbers of flying ants appearing around lights and windows in the summer.
White-footed Ants (Technomyrmex difficilis)
This pest species produces numerous winged males and queens. A single colony can release hundreds of thousands of alates in a mass swarming event, which can be a significant nuisance for homeowners. These swarms often originate from nests in wall voids or trees.
Asian Needle Ants (Brachyponera chinensis)
An invasive species, these ants produce winged reproductives that swarm in late summer. The males and queens are dark and slender. Their sting is painful and can cause allergic reactions in some individuals, making their swarms a particular health concern.
Crazy Ants (Nylanderia spp.)
Species like the Tawny Crazy Ant produce massive numbers of small, winged reproductives. Their swarms can be immense, creating a noticeable cloud of ants. They are notorious for being attracted to electrical equipment, and their swarms can cause short circuits if they occur near utility boxes.
Leafcutter Ants (Atta spp.)
The nuptial flight of Leafcutter Ants is a spectacular rainforest event. The winged reproductives, especially the queens, are enormous. They swarm in the millions after the first heavy rains of the wet season. The queens fly off, mate, and then land to shed their wings and dig a founding chamber, where they will use their own body tissues to feed the first generation of workers.