Carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.) are recognized for their large size and habit of excavating wood to build nests. The sudden appearance of winged individuals often causes alarm, but this is a natural and temporary phase of their life cycle. Wings develop exclusively for reproduction and the dispersal of the species across new territories. They are produced only when an established colony reaches maturity, signaling its readiness to found new nests.
Who Gets Wings
The vast majority of foraging ants are wingless worker ants, which are sterile females dedicated to the colony’s maintenance. The winged forms, known as alates or swarmers, constitute a reproductive caste consisting of virgin queens and male drones. A colony must typically exist for two to seven years before it possesses the resources and size to produce these winged reproductives. Alates are morphologically distinct from workers, possessing a more robust thorax to anchor flight muscles and a generally larger body size. These winged individuals are the sole members equipped for the single flight required to ensure the colony’s continuation.
The Purpose of the Nuptial Flight
The wings’ function is to facilitate a synchronized mass-mating event called the nuptial flight, which is the mechanism for colony expansion and genetic exchange. This swarming generally occurs during the warmer months of spring and early summer, often triggered by environmental cues like increased humidity following rain. The flight allows virgin queens to ascend and mate with males from other, distant colonies. This extensive dispersal prevents inbreeding and minimizes competition between the new colony and its parent nest. The wings are a specialized adaptation for brief aerial travel, allowing potential queens to travel miles away.
What Happens After the Flight
Once the mating flight is complete, the future of the male and female alates diverges. Male drones die shortly after mating, having fulfilled their function of fertilizing the virgin queens. The newly fertilized queen descends to the ground to locate a suitable site to establish her colony. Upon finding a secure location, she performs dealation, deliberately breaking off her wings at a pre-weakened suture point near the thorax. Shedding her wings symbolizes her transition from flier to founder, freeing her from the metabolic burden of maintaining flight muscles. The queen relies on the energy stored in those obsolete wing muscles to sustain herself and nourish her first brood of worker ants until they mature and begin foraging.
Winged Ants Indoors
Seeing winged carpenter ants inside a structure is a strong indication of a mature colony nesting within the building materials. These indoor flights can occur earlier than outdoor swarms because the consistent temperature inside allows the colony to mature faster. It is important to distinguish flying carpenter ants from flying termites, as both signal structural problems.
Distinguishing Carpenter Ants from Termites
Carpenter ants have a distinctly narrow, cinched waist and bent or “elbowed” antennae. Their front pair of wings is noticeably longer than the hind pair. In contrast, flying termites have a thick, straight waist and straight, beaded antennae. A termite’s four wings are all equal in length.
Discovering a swarm indoors suggests the parent nest is present within the walls or wood, and professional inspection is recommended to locate and address the infestation.