Photo Album: Ants Ace the Test in Freehold, NJ
Flying Ant Reproductives
While inspecting the classroom, we found the flying insects and identified them as reproductive ants. The sole purpose of this colony member is to fly out of the nest to mate and start another colony away from the original.
They Aren't Termites
Although ant reproductives have wings like termites, that is where the similarity ends. Ants have pinched waists, while termites do not. Also the two sets of ants wings are different lengths and termites wings are the same size, which they drop after mating.
IPM
When treating schools, we utilize IPM or Integrated Pest Management which includes inspection, mechanical methods, or low impact products to control unwanted pests. An ant gel bait was used along the baseboards where the ants were active. This will be brought back to the nest by the worker ants. A short while later, the colony is exterminated.