Flying ants almost sound like something out of a sci-fi movie. If you’re never experienced flying ant swarms, it’s hard to believe they are actually a real phenomenon. But believe it or not, swarms of these insects are completely real. Not only that, there’s actually a flying ant day in the UK. If you’re wondering what this is, here’s an explanation.
Flying ant day and flying ant swarms
Flying ant day refers to the date when flying ants in the UK mate. During this period flying ant swarms could be observed all over the country. If you spotted one of these swarms, there’s no need to be alarmed. It’s not the end of the world.
While this event is referred to as a “day”, it doesn’t actually occur on one particular day. Instead, these flying ant swarms build over several days until reaching full intensity. Neither does it happen on the same day each year.
Most often this event occurs some time during July, or even early August. What really matters are the weather conditions. These bugs generally swarm when the weather turns warm and dry, after a short period of rain. The wind also plays a role. These insects prefer calm winds of about 6.4 metres per second. They also look for temperatures of more than 13C. With the on-going heat waves, it makes sense that the ants would swarm at around this time.
But why do these ants swarm and are they harmful? These swarms occur simply so that the queens can mate with males. Once this is done these queens then go on to start new colonies. In general, these ants are not harmful at all. Yes, while they can bite you, these bites are relatively mild.
While this event is referred to as a “day”, it doesn’t actually occur on one particular day. Instead, these flying ant swarms build over several days until reaching full intensity. Neither does it happen on the same day each year.
Most often this event occurs some time during July, or even early August. What really matters are the weather conditions. These bugs generally swarm when the weather turns warm and dry, after a short period of rain. The wind also plays a role. These insects prefer calm winds of about 6.4 metres per second. They also look for temperatures of more than 13C. With the on-going heat waves, it makes sense that the ants would swarm at around this time.
But why do these ants swarm and are they harmful? These swarms occur simply so that the queens can mate with males. Once this is done these queens then go on to start new colonies. In general, these ants are not harmful at all. Yes, while they can bite you, these bites are relatively mild.
What you can do if you are bothered by flying ants
If you’re experiencing one of these flying ant swarms, the best thing to do is close your windows. You’ll have to wait for a day or two until the swarm ends, before opening them again. Also make sure you’ve closed up other entry points such as holes and cracks in the exterior of your home. You can also use sticky fly strip to catch these ants. You can also place sugar paste near the ants. They will pick this up and carry it off to their colony.
Just note that flying ant day doesn’t last very long, so there’s no real reason to kill these insects. Before you know it, they’ll be gone. Also note that these insects are beneficial to the environment, so killing them isn’t actually recommended. Instead, it’s better to simply observe this natural phenomenon and wait for the ants to leave by themselves.
Just note that flying ant day doesn’t last very long, so there’s no real reason to kill these insects. Before you know it, they’ll be gone. Also note that these insects are beneficial to the environment, so killing them isn’t actually recommended. Instead, it’s better to simply observe this natural phenomenon and wait for the ants to leave by themselves.