Attack of the flying ants

[Lauren35345]

Hi All,

I'm a new pool owner for about 2 months. I have an in ground, screen enclosed pool in Florida. There's a few small holes in the screen, but not very large. I keep finding these disgusting hoardes of flying ants floating around dead in the pool. The pump was running for around 7 hours before I went out to shock the pool and it looked like none of these gross things had made it into the filter at all.

This is the 3rd or 4th time I've found so many of them in there. I skim them out and use a skimmer sock in the basket as well. I'm really baffled as to how so many of them are getting in with the majority of it fairly well screened. Is there anything else I can do to try to deter them from landing in there?

 

[zea3]

Hi, welcome to TFP! Patch the holes in the screen, and put out a dusting of ant killer on the outside perimeter of the enclosure. They are looking for water, so they will get in any way they can.

 

[Gadragonfly]

I was going to start a flying ant post today as I noticed just this week the little pests in the water. I seem to remember, from a thread last year, that they only fly during mating season. I know that last year I cleaned them out of the pool for about a month and then all of a sudden they disappeared. I did find some interesting ideas about keeping them out of the pool at this site: https://www.hunker.com/13406524/how-to-keep-flying-ants-out-of-a-swimming-pool

Copied text:

That clear, cool swimming pool in your backyard is an oasis to humans and animals alike. Even small insects, such as flying ants, may take refuge in your pool. These irritating pests are attracted to the reflection of sunlight striking your pool, and will fly straight into the water. Even wet flying ants will bite if provoked, so keeping flying ants out of your pool is necessary for safe swimming.

Step 1
Drop a few tennis balls inside your pool. Flying ants are not good swimmers, and will cling to the surface of the tennis ball to avoid drowning. Six tennis balls are enough for most pools; however, larger pools or heavy ant infestation may require a few more.

Step 2
Scoop the tennis balls out with a pool skimmer. The fine mesh catches any ants that fall off the balls as you lift them out of the water.

Step 3
Add a quart of vinegar to a 5 gallon bucket, and drizzle in a few drops of liquid dish soap. Fill the bucket 1/3 of the way full with water, and drop the ant-covered balls in the solution. This solution kills the ants without exposing your family or pets to dangerous chemicals.

Step 4
Poke holes in one long side of an empty plastic bottle, and add a few drops of peppermint oil to the bottle. Screw the lid tightly on the bottle, and float the bottle in the pool with the holes facing up. Flying ants hate the smell of peppermint and will avoid your pool.

Step 5
Cover your pool with a pool cover when not in use. The sun won't shine on the surface of the water, so ants won't fly into your pool.

 

[Texas Splash]

The skimmer sock is my best friend when those things come around 2-3 times a year. It's crazy how they just show up one day (for about 2 days usually) and do their thing. They end-up in my skimmer and that's it. Now if I could only keep the rollie pollies, wasps, and scorpions on that same quick schedule things would be great!