More and More Jewel Spiders and Flying Ants Are Showing up in Calgary

If you've been noticing more jewel spiders and flying ants around the city lately, you're not alone. While summer is gearing down here in Calgary, there are some insects that are in the middle of mating season.

If you've been seeing swarms of these flying ants, it's because they are looking for new mates. It's ant reproduction time and when the family colonies become too large these ants fly off to look for mates.

While most ants don't have wings, you'll see these winged ants at specific times of the year. The females are bigger than the males and one colony can contain thousands of ants. If you're unlucky enough to find any in your home, it's possible that a colony has already formed inside. In this situation, your best bet is to call in a professional pest control company to have them treated as you would with any other type of ant infestation.

It's also time for jewel spiders to lay their eggs. While they are around all summer, the females grow extremely large near the end of August. They are holding tiny eggs in their sack and for this reason can be as big as a loonie. These spiders aren't poisonous or harmful in any way, but they may not be pleasant to look at - especially if you have a fear of spiders.

This is the time of year when you'll want to be aware of these insects especially if you're a cyclist. You may even want to consider wearing a mask when bike riding until these insects complete their mating and egg-laying seasons. It will be over soon but until that time the spiders and ants are definitely an annoying inconvenience.