An army of flying ants invades many housing estates in Hong Kong, experts deconstruct folk fallacies and three ways to stop ant infestation

District 18 News

Written by: District Licheng

2021-05-07 17:30

Last update date: 2021-05-07 17:30

Hong Kong will usher in a six-day rain next Monday. The wet and rainy season attracts thousands of flying ants. Owners of many housing estates in Hong Kong asked for help online, saying that a large number of flying ants invaded their homes on the eve of the heavy rain. Worrying that once they land and take root, they will become the bane of termites. Some people propose to use water basins to illuminate ants. Others use household appliances and biological ant methods. Some experts say that termites can not only fly in through windows, but can also crawl into private individuals along canals. For housing estate units, it is recommended to make good use of three methods to prevent ant infestation.

Kwai Tsing District Councillor Wong Chun-lin said that on the eve of the rainy season, residents of Ching Wah Court and Cheung Hong Estate near the hillside asked for help. They said that flying ants flew into the house, fearing that they would degenerate into termites to eat wood. I believe other local housing estates will also There is the same ant infestation. In his Facebook group, he suggested that the public can use the water basin to hold clean water and pour a small amount of detergent, and illuminate the water basin with light for a long time to attract flying ants to fly into the water and drown. He also Remind the neighbours to pay attention to whether the windows in their homes are tightly closed, so as not to be taken advantage of by flying ants.

Netizens from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau post for help

In addition to Tsing Yi district, private housing estates in Tseung Kwan O as well as Taiwan and Macau have Internet users asking for help online, saying that flying ants fly into their homes like an army of thousands of horses, and even the method of using basins to light them cannot be completely eliminated. Many people even uploaded pictures of termites worming into the wooden platform. The scene was scary.

During the rainy season, local YouTubers and netizens have proposed to use vacuum cleaners and electric mosquito swatters to eliminate flying ants. Some people also suggested installing mosquito nets on windows to exclude flying ants. The owners of lizards and jumping spiders refer to flying ants. As a pet’s dish, there are so many "additional calcium powder supplements (nutrition)", and he said with a smile, "I want to raise an anteater."

Expert: Flying ants are common in low-pressure climates in early summer

Rao Ge, president of the Hong Kong Entomological Society, said that flying ants, also known as water ants, are mainly named after they appear before and after heavy rains. Common species in Hong Kong include yellow-winged giant termites (Macrotermes barneyi) and black-winged soil termites (Odontotermes formosanus). , Mainly distinguished by the color of wings. Both are because termites need to divide their nests. Sexually mature female and male termites each give birth to wings and fly to other places to reproduce offspring. Therefore, housing estates or village houses near the hillside planting slope are especially common.

Rao pointed out that flying ants are phototaxis insects and they often appear after low air pressure and twilight hours. Some people suggest lighting in water basins to kill them. However, he pointed out that once flying ants touch the ground, their wings will quickly fall off. There are other lights, which are scattered and concentrated in disguise, but attract more flying ants. It is recommended to install mosquito nets. Flying ants will flick their wings when they hit a wall or underground.

The chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Pest Management, Chen Ze-sen, said that flying ants breed in wet and wooden places and do not necessarily enter houses through windows. In the past, I have tried to use the pipes of private housing estates such as Taikoo Shing and Tsim Sha Tsui East to climb into indoor units and take off their wings. It turns into termites and eats wooden floors, skirting lines or kitchen cabinets. Therefore, it is recommended that the public keep the indoor environment dry for a long time and check the kitchen and toilet ducts frequently to prevent long-term water accumulation or leakage. Once flying ants are found entering the house, It can be sucked away with a vacuum cleaner, but do not use a dehumidifier or smelly pill, because it is helpless to drive away the flying ants and the humidity in the cabinet. You can also open the doors and windows before 4 pm to allow air convection to prevent termites.

Experts suggest three methods:

1) Regularly check the canal or other concealed dark corners to prevent water accumulation or leakage, and the flying ants can take advantage of the opportunity to reproduce.

2) Keep the room dry and ventilated for a long time. You can turn on the air conditioner to dehumidify or use the windows for ventilation and convection before dusk.

3) Once the flying ants are found entering the house, they can be sucked away with a vacuum cleaner, but a dehumidifier or stinky pill will not help prevent ant infestation.

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