Flying ant day to unleash hell on Britons EARLY amid unusually warm UK weather
SWARMS of flying ants are set to blight our skies as the creepy crawlies take to the air for their annual mating session.
The variety we will see in the UK is known as Lasius niger
Warmer weather heralds blooming gardens, packed parks and sun worshippers enjoying the outside.
One less welcome side effect of the warmer temperatures are the millions of ants which grow wings and emerge on the pavements, walls and skies.
Informally dubbed ‘flying ant day’ the critters - both male and female - develop wings and leave their nest to seek out mates.
Female queens will mate with males and then land to establish their own colony, which can grow to house 5,000 ants.
The queens can live for up to 10 years and spend the majority of their lives in the nest.
While there is no specific date for the annual phenomena, it usually occurs between July and August following a spell of wet weather, followed by hot humid weather.
The queens can live for up to 10 years
It is thought the day could nearly be upon us and the UK has been enjoying balmy temperatures.
Their foray into the world is referred to as their “nuptial flight”, and they mate during flight.
Disgusting swarm of black flying ants covers wall
Day to day ants which carry out task such as collecting food are female ants, and the males who come out for flying ant day only have one job - to mate.
Their lifespan only lasts one or two days after they have passed on their genes to a new queen.
Their foray into the world is referred to as their “nuptial flight”
The Society of Biology runs a flying ant survey, which has previously discovered there's a month of high flying ant activity in the UK, and identified four distinct peaks.
Despite their annoyance, the ants provide a vital service to the environment.
They help aerate the soil, replace vital nutrients, control pests and provide fertility in the garden.
The critters - both male and female - develop wings and leave their nest
And they help in another way, by being a food source for a host of other creatures, particularly birds.
The variety we will see in the UK is known as Lasius niger.