Latest news with #FlyingAntDay
BBC News
12 hours ago
- Science
- BBC News
Flying Ant Day: When is it? Have you seen any?
Picture the scene, it's a nice sunny afternoon and then suddenly an ANT FLIES AT YOUR FACE... Every summer there is a day when thousands of giant flying ants emerge from their nests roughly at the same time - known as Flying Ant the name, it can happen over a number of days and sees giant black ants with wings taking flight across the UK in warm weather. Why do ants fly? Flying Ant Day usually arrives during the summer months. Flying queens, which are larger, along with smaller male flying ants fly off to set-up new there is no such thing as a specific 'Ant Day', scientists have found that ants are good at short term weather prediction so chose a warm and calm day to is often in mid to late summer in the UK but varies across the country. Speaking to BBC Newsround, Cesar Wang, from Ant HQ, a flying Ant expert and ant-keeper who supplies ants for research said: "Rather than being a single day, it's more like a season, so it can actually start as early as June, all the way into September. "For example, I'm based in London and in London it's a very developed city, loads of buildings, so heat tends to accumulate a bit more, so ant nests which may be beneath paving slabs which absorb heat. "Their [the ants] development tends to increase and tends to be a little bit faster than usual, so these queen ants will hatch a bit earlier." Noting that flying ants may already be making an appearance this year, Cesar explained that "this year we've had quite a hot spring so we'll typically see flying ants emerging a little bit earlier." Are flying ants anything to worry about? While it might not be particularly pleasant to have several large ants flying at your face, Cesar says they're completely "harmless". Queen ants can be a bit scary if you've never seen them before, they're definitely much larger than the typical worker ants that you see in the park or garden."But here in the UK, there are 60-odd species and none of them have a lethal sting or bite and they won't be able to do anything to a human." Phew!
Wales Online
18 hours ago
- Climate
- Wales Online
Flying Ant Day 2025 to be one of biggest in recent memory, experts say
Flying Ant Day 2025 to be one of biggest in recent memory, experts say Pest control experts say we will see swarms of tens of millions of ants large enough to be seen on radar Winged ants swarming on a hot summer day Pest experts are warning of a major increase in flying ant activity, triggered by the perfect mix of alternating wet and warm weather, and say this year's Flying Ant Day—the annual nuptial flight when millions of winged ants swarm the skies in synchronized displays—could be one of the biggest in recent memory. Rentokil says this summer's fluctuating conditions—especially high humidity—are ideal for swarming. A spokesman said: 'In past years, radar systems have even mistaken these dense clouds of ants for rain.' Paul Blackhurst, Technical Academy Head at Rentokil Pest Control, said: 'Experts warn that this year could see larger-than-usual swarms of flying ants, as we approach Flying Ant Day, also known as the nuptial flight, and sometimes nicknamed 'flant day'. 'This natural event, when vast numbers of winged ants, known as alates, take to the skies at once in search of mates from other colonies, could be one of the most prolific for years. The alternating wet and warm weather we have been experiencing recently is creating the perfect conditions for larger-than-usual swarms, as humidity is important in keeping the ants' wings and bodies moist during flight and 'mating on the wing'. 'Despite the name, Flying Ant Day doesn't happen on a single fixed day each year. These swarming events can occur at different times across the country, depending on the weather, and in particular, temperature, humidity and wind. Article continues below 'While you might see a few flying ants on most warm summer days, ideal weather conditions can trigger the appearance of tens of millions of them taking to the skies in massive swarms over several weeks across Britain. On radar, these dense clouds of insects can even resemble rain. 'Though it may seem like a summertime nuisance, this swarming strategy is believed to help more ants survive by overwhelming their predators including swifts and gulls. 'After mating mid-air, the male ants which are smaller will quickly fall to the ground and die. The newly fertilized female queens shed their wings and burrow into the soil to nest and start new colonies. Article continues below 'While flying ants might disrupt your picnic, barbecue, or pub garden pint, they play a vital role in the ecosystem by aerating soil, recycling nutrients, and serving as a key food source for birds.' Here are some ant prevention tips for your home from the pest experts at Rentokil:
