Banish flying ants from home with £5 B&M gadget this weekend – as tens of MILLIONS to take to skies in ‘massive swarm'

The Sun

2 days ago

AS temperatures climb to 33C across the UK, early signs of flying ant season are already being spotted — and a £5 gadget from B&M is being hailed as a simple way to keep them out.
One clever solution is already making waves online.
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One user took to Facebook to share the tip, posting: 'Magnetic insect door screen at B&M.'
The £5 gadget could help stop them in their tracks.
The screen fastens with Velcro tape around the doorframe and is held snug by a series of magnets along the centre seam. T
his magnetic strip allows the screen to open and close effortlessly—step through and it snaps right back into place, keeping unwanted insects out without ever getting in your way .
It sparked a wave of interest, with one user saying: 'I bought this and it helped.'
Another wrote: 'I need to get this ASAP,' while a third added: 'I just use shower curtains.'
Others tagged friends to spread the word as the country braces for Flying Ant Day, when millions of the pests take to the air in a huge mating swarm.
The phenomenon is being reported across the UK, as the recent hot and humid conditions create ideal circumstances for the ants to emerge.
What are flying ants?
Flying ants are usually black garden ants — known scientifically as Lasius niger.
These colonies can contain thousands of female worker ants and are ruled by a single queen.
The winged ants spotted in summer are either new queens or males, taking part in their once-in-a-lifetime mating flight.
Once mating is done, the queens lose their wings and begin the search for a place to establish a new colony.
The larger ants you see walking around on their own afterwards are in fact these new queens, looking to start a nest.
Although they may look alarming, flying ants are generally harmless to humans.
They can cause seagulls to act drunk after eating them, due to the formic acid the ants release.
Still, many people find the flying insects irritating, especially when they swarm indoors.
One common home remedy is a simple mixture of washing-up liquid and water, sprayed directly onto the ants.
Some suggest blending aspartame-based sweeteners with juice to create a sticky paste, which ants carry back to their nests, potentially reducing the population.
Others opt for insecticidal powders, carefully applied around windows and doors to block their entry.
The £5 magnetic insect screen from B&M, however, is proving to be a hit for many households.
Easy to attach and remove, it creates a physical barrier over doorways while still allowing fresh air to flow through — ideal during the summer heat.
Flying ants rarely bite, and even when they do, the NHS says the bites are 'generally harmless, although you'll probably feel a nip.'
Their swarming typically happens during a short period in high summer known as Flying Ant Day.
Despite the name, the event can stretch over several weeks depending on weather conditions.
Most flying ants only live for a day or two after taking flight, which is why their tiny bodies often litter paths and pavements afterwards.