Flying Ant Day will be a big one this year and is set to last several weeks, according to experts. The annual event, also known as the nuptial flight, sees numerous winged ants taking to the skies across the UK.
Contrary to its name, this event happens over several weeks rather than a single day, and this year, the wet spring followed by the warm weather we're experiencing sets the stage for bumper swarms across Britain, according to experts at Rentokil.
Paul Blackhurst, Technical Academy Head at Rentokil Pest Control, said: "Flying ant day, also known as the nuptial flight, is a natural phenomenon in which high numbers of ants with wings, called alates, take to the air simultaneously in search of mates from other colonies.
“The term "flying ant day" often leads to the misconception that this annual occurrence takes place all on one day. In truth, on almost all warm summer days you can find a few flying ants, but when the weather is just right we might see tens of millions take to the skies across Britain in giant swarms over a few weeks. While it can be a temporary nuisance, this mass flight helps the ants to overwhelm predators such as swifts and gulls, thereby increasing their chances of survival.
“Following a wet start to the spring this year, followed by the very warm weather we’ve been experiencing, the conditions are ripe for bumper swarms. Humidity plays a crucial role in the life cycle of ants, particularly during the nuptial flight, keeping their wings and bodies moist as they mate on the wing.
“Once the mating has taken place, it's all over for the smaller male ants who will fall to the ground and die, while the new, now fertile, queen loses her wings and buries herself underground to form a new nest."
