Flying Ant Day is coming, and experts warn it could be the worst one yet
And this summer, experts believe it is going to be worse than ever.
Dubbed Flying Ant Day, it is an annual event when millions of winged male and female ants fly out of their colonies to mate in the air.
The flights actually takes place across the country over a number of weeks in July and August, but this year's rollercoaster weather has created ideal conditions for particularly hefty swarms.
According to Best Ants UK: 'Flying Ant Day in 2025 is predicted to occur earlier than usual, with peak activity anticipated around 22 and 25 of July.'
People living in cities need to be on watch sooner, as urban areas are typically warmer so trigger early mating activities.
Block entry points into your home by sealing cracks and crevices around doors, windows and pipework
Sweep up food debris from under kitchen appliances and units
Clear up any food or liquid spillages immediately
Store your food in airtight containers wherever possible
If you have a pet, clear away any food that isn't eaten straight away
Make sure all rubbish bins have tightly sealed lids
Keeping windows and doors shut is one of the most effective methods of preventing flying insects from entering your home
Installing a fly screen will prevent flying ants from entering your home, whilst still leaving windows and doors open
Use a strong detergent to remove any pheromone trails foraging ants have laid down to direct other ants to a food source
Pest control company Rentokil say the this summer's conditions, in particular the high humidity, more suited for swarming. More Trending
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.
'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'.
'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.'
While swarms of flying insects may infuriate picnic-goers, the yearly mating season is crucial for the UK's ecosystem.
The reason ants fly in the first place is so a queen can leave her colony behind and start up a new one.
She then chews off her wings and tunnels into the earth to create a new colony with thousands of babies on the way.
This tunnelling activity is crucial in improving soil quality.
The large swarms are also important feeding opportunities for many species of birds.
Two ant species, the black garden ant and the related cornfield ant, are also vital for the survival of the silver-studded blue butterfly.
They have a mutually beneficial relationship: the ants tend to the catepillars, and in return they feed on caterpillar sectretions.
Blackhurst added: '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.
'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.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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The Independent
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- The Independent
When is flying ant day in the UK and why does it happen?
The much-loathed 'flying ant day', a summer phenomenon, is set to return to Britain and Ireland as warmer weather persists across the UK. Swarms of winged black garden ants, typically Lasius niger, will erupt from their nests under lawns, flower beds, and patios, invade personal spaces, cling to laundry, and splatter car windshields. Their sheer numbers can be so immense that they have previously registered as drifting clouds on weather radars. Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge told the BBC that distinguishing them from patches of showers can be difficult. While the occurrence can be unpleasant and occasionally very irritating – memorably, tennis stars Caroline Wozniacki and Ekaterina Makarova had to interrupt a Wimbledon match in July 2018 to spray themselves with bug repellent as the result of an influx of flying ants to Court 1 – it is largely harmless to humans and not something to worry about. Nevertheless, to be forewarned is to be forearmed, so here is everything you need to know about this strangest of annual events. Why does it happen? The reason ants emerge from the ground in this sudden fashion is because they have reached the 'nuptial flight' phase of their reproductive cycles, at which point those with wings (known as alates) – virgin queen ants (or princesses) and male drones, but not flightless female workers – depart their nests in search of new colonies, moving as one for protection. As the queens race off, they emit pheromones to attract mates while flying as fast as they can to ensure that only the fastest and most capable males can reach them. This is an example of natural selection in action, as the race makes certain that only the strongest examples of the species get to pass on their genes to a next generation. The spread to fresh colonies further afield also serves to limit inbreeding as it means ants commingle with mates from other nests. A queen – which can grow to 15mm in length and live for as long as 15 years in the wild, according to the Natural History Museum (NHM) – may have several mates during the nuptial flight and preserve their semen within her abdomen for a lifetime, with a view to fertilising future eggs. She will go on to discard her wings by chewing them off and form new nests underground but her male suitors will simply fall to the ground and die without so much as a post-coital cigarette, their final moments on Earth presumably also among their happiest. What weather conditions encourage it? In Britain and Ireland, flying ant days typically occur in July or August, often in warmer urban areas first, when the weather is hot and humid and when winds are low. Temperature is a key factor, with the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) noting that ant swarms rarely emerge if it is cooler than 13C and that 25C is their preferred seasonal average. The RSB, incidentally, argues that we should think of flying ant seasons, rather than isolated days, as ants may well take to the air on multiple occasions over the course of a British summer, depending on the atmospheric conditions, the species of ant in question and the nature of their habitat among other variables. What can be done about it? Not a great deal, unfortunately. Some might advocate flooding the ants' nests with water or detergent or attempting to snare them in sellotape around the home but that all feels distinctly inhumane. Instead, your best bet is to stay out of their way as much as possible and console yourself with the integral role ants play in the maintenance of natural ecosystems. Their colonies help to keep the soil aerated and they themselves are a vital source of food to birds like swifts and gulls, who in turn make important contributions to the natural order. If you do get bitten or stung, do not be alarmed. The NHS states that ant bites are 'generally harmless, although you'll probably feel a nip'.
Wales Online
08-07-2025
- Wales Online
Flying ant swarms as large as rain clouds as Welsh experts advise action
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Wildlife experts in North Wales have warned that swarms of flying ants are this summer set to be amongst the 'biggest in recent memory'. It follows ideal breeding conditions for the insects, with warm weather interspersed with wetter spells. Already swarms have been detected over parts of Britain that were so large, they were mistaken for shower clouds when picked up on radar this week. Near London they appeared as 'strange, flashing echoes' on Met Office radar screens. The forecaster noted: 'Radar works by emitting electromagnetic beams that reflect off small particles like raindrops. Flying ants, being similar in size to raindrops, can also reflect these beams, creating radar signatures that resemble precipitation. "This phenomenon, often seen during 'Flying Ant Day,' is a fascinating example of how biological activity can intersect with meteorological technology.' It is a common misconception that flying ants appear only one day every summer. But research has revealed the insects take flight on multiple occasions during the summer, typically from mid-July to the end of August. This year's warmer-than-average weather appears have triggered earlier swarms. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone Queen ants and males tend to leave their nests to create their own colonies when the weather is hot and humid - typically when the temperature exceeds 25C, there is little wind and there is a chance of rain in the following days. (Image: Adam Gerrard/Daily Mirror) North Wales Wildlife Trust is warning householders to expect some inundations this year. A spokesperson said: 'Flying ants will be taking to the skies towards the end of July in a mating process which can actually last several weeks. 'The warm weather and wet conditions are likely to cause huge swarms this year - it's expected to be one of the biggest in recent memory! It's best to keep your windows and doors shut during their peak swarming time and leave them to it!" Ants mate on the wing because it increases their chances of reproduction. The queen will then attempt to start a new nest before losing her wings. Each nest will have a single queen, typically presiding over worker ants that can number between 5,000-15,000. Like most flies, the ants are attracted to sweet foods, so it's best to keep these covered if you don't want your house to be invaded. Fly screens will help prevent them entering homes. In hot weather – like that forecast for later this week – keeping curtains shut during the day will help to keep them out while also maintaining cooler temperatures. Flying ants can bite, although the bite is usually not harmful. In the UK, most of them are common black garden ants whose mandibles can't bite through human skin. On the other hand, red ants can bite if they feel threatened – and they do have a stinger. Their bites can cause a sharp, painful sting and may lead to a mild allergic reaction. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox North Wales Wildlife Trust said the pesky insects may be annoying but they actually have positive environmental roles. A spokesperson added: 'Although they may be a bit of a nuisance, black ants are an important source of food for birds, and a friend to butterflies. Their tunnelling is also vital for soil health.' Find the weather forecast where you live
North Wales Live
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- North Wales Live
Flying ant swarms as large as rain clouds as Welsh experts advise action
Wildlife experts in North Wales have warned that swarms of flying ants are this summer set to be amongst the 'biggest in recent memory'. It follows ideal breeding conditions for the insects, with warm weather interspersed with wetter spells. Already swarms have been detected over parts of Britain that were so large, they were mistaken for shower clouds when picked up on radar this week. Near London they appeared as 'strange, flashing echoes' on Met Office radar screens. The forecaster noted: 'Radar works by emitting electromagnetic beams that reflect off small particles like raindrops. Flying ants, being similar in size to raindrops, can also reflect these beams, creating radar signatures that resemble precipitation. "This phenomenon, often seen during 'Flying Ant Day,' is a fascinating example of how biological activity can intersect with meteorological technology.' It is a common misconception that flying ants appear only one day every summer. But research has revealed the insects take flight on multiple occasions during the summer, typically from mid-July to the end of August. This year's warmer-than-average weather appears have triggered earlier swarms. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone Queen ants and males tend to leave their nests to create their own colonies when the weather is hot and humid - typically when the temperature exceeds 25C, there is little wind and there is a chance of rain in the following days. North Wales Wildlife Trust is warning householders to expect some inundations this year. A spokesperson said: 'Flying ants will be taking to the skies towards the end of July in a mating process which can actually last several weeks. 'The warm weather and wet conditions are likely to cause huge swarms this year - it's expected to be one of the biggest in recent memory! It's best to keep your windows and doors shut during their peak swarming time and leave them to it!" Ants mate on the wing because it increases their chances of reproduction. The queen will then attempt to start a new nest before losing her wings. Each nest will have a single queen, typically presiding over worker ants that can number between 5,000-15,000. Like most flies, the ants are attracted to sweet foods, so it's best to keep these covered if you don't want your house to be invaded. Fly screens will help prevent them entering homes. In hot weather – like that forecast for later this week – keeping curtains shut during the day will help to keep them out while also maintaining cooler temperatures. Flying ants can bite, although the bite is usually not harmful. In the UK, most of them are common black garden ants whose mandibles can't bite through human skin. On the other hand, red ants can bite if they feel threatened – and they do have a stinger. Their bites can cause a sharp, painful sting and may lead to a mild allergic reaction. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox North Wales Wildlife Trust said the pesky insects may be annoying but they actually have positive environmental roles. A spokesperson added: 'Although they may be a bit of a nuisance, black ants are an important source of food for birds, and a friend to butterflies. Their tunnelling is also vital for soil health.'
