Unless you’ve got an insect book to hand, it can be difficult to identify what the exact species of the big black ant with wings you’re describing actually is. Some people may say that it is a carpenter ant, but as this type of insect does not have wings, it is highly unlikely that this will be the answer you are looking for. Interestingly, a big black ant with wings is likely to be known as a flying ant, meaning that you don’t have any Latin to worry about when doing your research!
Flying ants are extremely clever in the way that they live their lives, with a set reproductive process that is timed to bring the best results. Once wings are fully developed, these insects will leave their colonies in search of ants from other colonies to mate with. A fascinating fact is that flying ants are associated with a behaviour that’s commonly known as ‘hill-topping’: Meeting in a place that’s quite high off the ground to reproduce properly.
You should be careful not to confuse flying ants with termites. If you’re lucky enough to get up close and personal with a magnifying glass to see both, you’ll notice that there are several visual differences between the two species. For those who are interested in the distinguishing features, you might want to remember that whereas a termite’s antennae are completely straight, the antennae of flying ants are bent. Finally, the wings are another body part that set termites and flying ants apart, mainly because ants don’t have wings of the same size at the front and back like termites do.
Flying ants are extremely clever in the way that they live their lives, with a set reproductive process that is timed to bring the best results. Once wings are fully developed, these insects will leave their colonies in search of ants from other colonies to mate with. A fascinating fact is that flying ants are associated with a behaviour that’s commonly known as ‘hill-topping’: Meeting in a place that’s quite high off the ground to reproduce properly.
You should be careful not to confuse flying ants with termites. If you’re lucky enough to get up close and personal with a magnifying glass to see both, you’ll notice that there are several visual differences between the two species. For those who are interested in the distinguishing features, you might want to remember that whereas a termite’s antennae are completely straight, the antennae of flying ants are bent. Finally, the wings are another body part that set termites and flying ants apart, mainly because ants don’t have wings of the same size at the front and back like termites do.
