The truth about flying ant day and the best way to get rid of the pesky insects

Yahoo

2 days ago

Brits have been basking in the sunshine recently, with the UK recording some of the hottest temperatures of the year so far.
But as lovely as hot weather can be, the heat tends to herald the arrival of some unwelcome guests: flying ants.
You might have heard of Flying Ant Day. But speaking to experts from the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) about what and when it is, we discovered it's something of an urban myth.
There isn't actually a specific 'Flying Ant Day' (if there was, we'd certainly stay inside). Instead, it's more of a "flying ant season," which usually occurs from late June into September – depending on the weather.
"We had thousands of amateur scientists across the UK recording sightings and what we concluded is there isn't one Flying Ant Day," Susie Rabin, RSB's director of communications and public affairs, tells Yahoo UK.
"It's really just the weather that triggers them to start flying; when it's warm, not very windy, and a bit humid."
You'll generally see flying ants when the queen ants (which are easy to spot as they're the biggest and can grow up to 15mm long) are on the lookout for a new home. Unfortunately for us, they don't leave their pals behind.
When the queens decide to up and flee, they bring the male ants with them. "They're basically trying to find a mate and a new place to set up a colony," Rabin explains. "The males die pretty much straight after mating, which is why you'll often see lots of dead ants soon after a swarm."
Flying ants need the right mix of heat and humidity to trigger their so-called 'nuptial flight'.
"It usually needs to be above about 25 degrees, not too windy, and a bit humid," says Rabin. "If those conditions happen multiple times a year, you'll get more than one flight. Some years you might see them in July, other years in August."
Flying ants tend to build nests in dry soil so can be found beneath flower beds, lawns and paving slabs.
They're common in almost any dry, open area that is warmed by sunlight – including gardens, pavements, brownfield sites, heathland, grassland and coastal areas.
In the few weeks before the swarming event happens, you may see heaps of soil appearing above the nests.
Although they're not dangerous, flying ants can prove incredibly irritating. They've been known to bite or sting, but this is fairly uncommon.
"They're part of the ecosystem – burrowing, breaking down plant matter, and feeding birds," Rabin continues. "If they're outside, it's best just to leave them alone."
If you really need to deal with them, your options include:
Pouring boiling water into visible nest entrances can kill ants on contact, but it may take repeated treatments.
Use insecticide carefully and follow instructions – Rabin advises considering the impact on other wildlife. "Remember birds could eat dead ants," she notes.
Check around doors and windows if you're seeing ants indoors, and seal any gaps where they might be getting in.
Rabin adds: "Unless they're in your house, they're really not doing any harm. They'll be gone in a few hours. And if they are inside, then it's really something pest control need to deal with."
Read more about pests:
Seven common pests and how to keep them out of your home (ECHO, 6-min read)
Property DIY: How to get rid of pests in the home (Yahoo Finance UK, 4-min read)
The surprising harvesting tip that protects your tomatoes from pests (Country Living UK, 3-min read)