Winged Ant or Queen Ant
Scientific Name: Formicidae (alate form)
Order & Family: Order Hymenoptera, Family Formicidae
Size: 3 mm - 13 mm (varies greatly by species and caste, queens are often larger than males or workers)
Natural Habitat
Widely varied, depending on the species. Nests are typically underground, in wood, or under rocks. Winged forms are seen during mating flights in open air.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous, feeding on nectar, honeydew, seeds, fungi, other insects, and household scraps. Diet varies by species.
Behavior Patterns
Winged ants are typically reproductive males and females (alates) that emerge from colonies for mating flights. After mating, males die, and fertilized queens shed their wings to establish new colonies. Behavior is driven by reproduction and colony establishment. They are attracted to light during swarming periods.
Risks & Benefits
Potential Risks: Some species can cause structural damage (carpenter ants), contaminate food, or deliver painful stings (e.g., fire ants). They can be a nuisance when swarming indoors. Potential Benefits: Ants play important ecological roles as decomposers, aerators of soil, predators of other insects, and seed dispersers.
Identified on: 9/5/2025