Flying ants in kitchen

[bronzea5]

Recently, we have a problem in which there are flying ants in the kitchen. Most of them appear on the floor near the wall and the kitchen sink.

I think the flying ants are getting in through a gap around the water waste pipe as there is a big gap around the pipe.

I've attached a photo that shows the gap around the pipe on the exterior wall.

Can you please recommend what is the best type of filler to fill the gap around the pipe? Will the filler need to be a specific type that allows for flex because its next to a pipe?

Ideally, the filler should be something that is available in low quantity because not much filler is needed. I've read that Toupret Murex Repair Filler is good but it says that its not waterproof so I'm not sure its suitable for an exterior wall or whether its suitable for next to a pipe.

 

[Deluks]

Squirt some sealant in that.

It may not cure your ant problem. Presumably you've used ant killer powder, spray or trap?

 

[bronzea5]

Squirt some sealant in that.

It may not cure your ant problem. Presumably you've used ant killer powder, spray or trap?

What type of exterior sealent would be best to use?

I've read that gaps larger than 1 cm require filler rather than sealent. The gap does seem to be larger than 1 cm in length.

 

[Deluks]

Any exterior grade sealant would do. You could use mortar if you have some, but not worth buying in for that small amount.
This one can be built up in layers and is cheap.

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[Ivor Windybottom]

Flying ants are just ants, with wings. They usually only fly on one day of the year, usually late summer.

It's likely they're something else.

As for the gap, any squirty sealant in a tube will be fine. Don't worry too much about the 1cm thing, it's a guide not a rule.

Check everything is clean and dry first. I'd wash it with the hosepipe then leave it a few days to dry out before filling.

 

[bronzea5]

Flying ants are just ants, with wings. They usually only fly on one day of the year, usually late summer.

It's likely they're something else.

As for the gap, any squirty sealant in a tube will be fine. Don't worry too much about the 1cm thing, it's a guide not a rule.

Check everything is clean and dry first. I'd wash it with the hosepipe then leave it a few days to dry out before filling.

After reading more about it, seems like they might be flies.

I'm not sure how deep the gap is. I guess its deep because the waste pipe goes into the entire width of the brick. So would the sealent be able to adhere properly to anything?

 

[noseall]

Recently, we have a problem in which there are flying ants in the kitchen. Most of them appear on the floor near the wall and the kitchen sink.

I think the flying ants are getting in through a gap around the water waste pipe as there is a big gap around the pipe.

I've attached a photo that shows the gap around the pipe on the exterior wall.

Can you please recommend what is the best type of filler to fill the gap around the pipe? Will the filler need to be a specific type that allows for flex because its next to a pipe?

Ideally, the filler should be something that is available in low quantity because not much filler is needed. I've read that Toupret Murex Repair Filler is good but it says that its not waterproof so I'm not sure its suitable for an exterior wall or whether its suitable for next to a pipe.

Unlikely to be seeing flying ants this time of the year in the UK. However, cluster flies will be waking up in this warm sun.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

They're not waking up in our loft, I smoke-bombed the buggers a few weeks ago. I was hoovering up the bodies last weekend.

Supposedly once you've nuked them for a couple of years their scent goes away and they stop coming back again. Sounds like a hopeful theory!

Cluster Flies are grass flies, hanging out somewhere a bit warmer for the winter. They'll go and eat worms or whatever they do all summer, then their children come back to the place their parents scent-marked when they left.