Why Do Winged Ants Fly?

Termites, sometimes called white ants, and ants mate from spring to summer. The females leave the nest and fly high into the sky. Many males follow them but most can't catch up with the females. As they fly around, lights attract them. that's why they sometimes come into houses. Both make and female flying ants have wings. During the mating season they leave the nest together in a mating flight. The make that catches up with a female is the only one that can mates with her. Males that do not find mates cannot return to their nests. Unmated males die after a few days. Male and female termites fly out of the nest during the daytime in the early summer. They are called winged ants although they are not true ants.