Sai Kung flying ants! Help!

grandpiano · 31-05-2010, 06:41 AM

Hi, we've just moved to Sai Kung village house yesterday from a city apartment. I got back from dinner last night, found loads of flying ants (brown in colour) crawling inside our house! They're coming in from our french windows! What can I do? They seems to like our boxes!

MovingIn07 · 31-05-2010, 07:30 AM

Shut the windows for now. Then follow them back and find the nest in the morning and remove it (get some spray etc, to kill them all).

grandpiano · 31-05-2010, 08:27 AM

we've already shut the windows but they're coming through the gap. Just worrying. not sure if they're termites or flying ants.

Skyhook · 31-05-2010, 08:58 AM

They are flying termites, we had them here( Siu Lam ) for a couple of days flying around outside, at night, as they are attracted to lights.

We also had them occur like clock work this time of year in Tai Mong Tsai and Shelter Cove ( Sai Kung ) so, it's just something you get used to, while living out in these area's.

We never had any problems with them, but common sense prevails, and some simple steps can be made, which are:

•Don't leave outside porch or balcony lights on at night, if you do, draw blinds, deploy a decent sized (30cm² surface area) bug zapper and leave that running at night on the balcony or on a roof top terrace, it will attract them toward it, killing them at the same time.

•keep windows closed at night, which is a good idea in Sai Kung because it is a lot more humid there, than say where we are now, if you value your TV and any expensive electronics, I'd keep all windows shut around this ( damp ) time of year and run a dehumidifier on each floor. I had a TV dead short itself out, to never turn on ever again due to moisture that condensed on the EHT. lol.

•Purchase some 3M 3/4 inch foam tape to install around the ( exterior entry ) front door frame, to maintain a nice snug fit, as most door / frame sets are pretty sloppy with a large gap at the base of the door, which allows critters to get in under the door. Japan Store sells this.

•If you are hell bent on having windows open, have fly wire screens installed on the windows that you are likely to open most.

If you remain vigilant, you'll be fine. Remember it will only be for a few days, we had them here 3 days ago, and there weren't any last night.

No big deal... Wait till you get your first rat snake coiled up on your front door mat, or discover that rats have eaten every square inch of engine bay sound insulation ( Mercedes Benz foam rubber they adore) of your car, not to mention they have a fond taste for Italian automotive heater hoses too .

Lots of cool discoveries out in the NT, its what makes this place great, and a lot more pro's than cons.

You'll get used to the local fauna, good luck .

grandpiano · 31-05-2010, 09:59 AM

Hi Skyhook, thank you so much for your advise! If they're flying termites, i'm worried they may eat our furniture etc! Our front no plate has already snapped due to heavy rain yesterday!

Skyhook · 31-05-2010, 10:26 AM

Grand Piano, we haven't had any problems with termites, and we have a lot of solid timber furniture, plus our hallway and 3 bedrooms have solid hard wood timber floor boards. Our roof terrace is completely clad in marine grade treated long boards, also, which deters a colony forming.

The worst of the insects here are wasps/hornets, we had a bit of a problem with them 2 years ago, as 3 flew in through one of our top floor windows, and as I was closing that, a 4th appeared which stung me lol.

Nothing a tennis racquet can't fix....

grandpiano · 01-06-2010, 01:32 PM

Hi skyhook, thanks for your advise. I checked last night and no more flying termites. I'm a city girl and now have to get used to it! I love Sai Kung though. It reminds me of england at night! it's so relaxing!

Skyhook · 01-06-2010, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by grandpiano:

Hi skyhook, thanks for your advise. I checked last night and no more flying termites. I'm a city girl and now have to get used to it! I love Sai Kung though. It reminds me of england at night! it's so relaxing!

Grand piano, You'll eventually work out the seasonal aspects of the Sai Kung district, all part and parcel to being a Sai Kunga.

I agree with you regarding the relaxed nature, and in my opinion, Sai Kung has the best sense of community on the mainland. You'll make friends of substance and for life in SK

Below are a couple of community websites that list a bit of whats going on in the area....

Sai Kung Magazine
Explore Sai Kung

Cheers