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Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Banish flying ants from home with £5 B&M gadget this weekend – as tens of MILLIONS to take to skies in ‘massive swarm'
Winged queens on the move as rare mating ritual unfolds in UK heatwave BUG OFF Banish flying ants from home with £5 B&M gadget this weekend – as tens of MILLIONS to take to skies in 'massive swarm' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 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 Credit: Getty 3 The £5 gadget could help stop them in their tracks 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.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Why does flying ant day happen in the UK?
The annual 'flying ant day' phenomenon is set to return to Britain and Ireland as warmer weather persists. Swarms of winged black garden ants, Lasius niger, emerge from their nests for a 'nuptial flight', which is their reproductive phase. During this flight, virgin queen ants and male drones leave their nests to mate and seek out new colonies, with queens storing semen for future eggs and males dying after mating. This event typically occurs in July or August, favouring hot and humid conditions with low winds, ideally around 25C. While the swarms can be numerous and occasionally irritating, they are largely harmless to humans and play an important role in natural ecosystems, such as aerating soil and providing food for birds.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Climate
- 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'.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Shut your windows now' as flying ants swarm Irish homes in sudden surge
Households across Ireland are being advised to shut their windows as swarms of flying ants make a sudden appearance across the country. Experts say we're now in the peak season of what's dubbed 'Flying Ant Day', although the event is rarely limited to just one day. Instead, it's an annual summer surge, usually in July or early August, when thousands - even millions - of ants take to the skies at the same time in a mass mating ritual known as the "nuptial flight". The sudden explosion of flying ants has prompted pest control experts at Rentokil to issue a nationwide alert after a 17% spike in ant-related callouts in June 2024 compared to the same month the previous year. Flying Ant Day isn't officially marked on calendars, but nature often picks a day - or several - during warm, humid weather like we're having now and following rainfall. That's when black garden ants, known as Lasius niger, sprout wings and emerge from their nests in unison to breed. The nuptial flight involves male ants and young queens flying mid-air to mate. Afterward, the queens shed their wings and seek nesting spots, often in gardens, under patio slabs or even inside homes. Rentokil Ireland explained: "This phenomenon occurs during summer when flying ants leave the nest to reproduce and start a new colony. Swarms of flying ants from multiple colonies conjoin to breed mid-air. It is thought that flying ants often come out in huge numbers as a survival tactic designed to overwhelm potential predators such as swifts and gulls. "Such events can occur in different areas of the country at different times across the summer when the weather - temperature, humidity and wind conditions are favourable. After mating, the female ants fall to the ground, lose their wings, and look for a suitable location to start a new nest. Commonly known as black garden ants, they will often colonise locations under garden pots, in between and under patio slabs, and in planters." Ants don't pose much danger, but they can be a major nuisance, especially when they find a way inside. Once a food source is discovered indoors, ants lay down a pheromone trail that attracts thousands more. Rentokil says keeping doors and windows closed during swarm periods is one of the most effective ways to block the insects from entering your home. Fly screens, sealing up cracks and storing food in airtight containers can also help. If you're already seeing flying ants in or around your home, don't panic. Rentokil have listed steps that can be taken to avoid the presence of these pest insects in homes and businesses:
The Irish Sun
04-07-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Warning over disorientated seagulls ‘on acid' wreaking havoc in UK seaside towns due to annual phenomenon
A WARNING has been issued over "drunk" seagulls causing chaos in UK seaside towns. The birds might be behaving strangely due to annual phenomenon. Advertisement 2 Seagulls might appear 'drunk' and disoriented Credit: Getty 2 Seagulls feed on ants which produce acid Credit: Getty Swarms of giant flying ants will take to the skies over the next few days. It marks the beginning of the insects' mating season, dubbed Flying Ants Day. However, the bizarre phenomenon lasts for considerably longer than a day, often two weeks. But it's not swarms of ants that people should be aware of. Advertisement read more on news Seagulls could be seen acting disoriented and having trouble flying as if they are intoxicated. The flying pests produce an acid which makes seagulls who eat the ants "slightly drunk". A spokesman for Sompting Wildlife Rescue told the Argus: 'These ants release formic acid as a natural defence. "In small amounts, it's harmless, but when gulls gobble down a feast of ants, it can cause them to appear disoriented or 'drunk', stumbling around and struggling to fly properly." Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive The animal rescue organisation has cautioned drivers to slow down if they see seagulls near the roads. The birds are especially vulnerable as they might move slower than usual and struggle to avoid the traffic. The spokesman continued: 'If you see a gull behaving strangely by the roadside, please slow down and give them space - they might just need a little time to recover. 'These gulls can show symptoms that look like bird flu, which raises concerns. Advertisement 'But in many cases, they're not sick at all. 'Let's avoid unnecessary action like euthanasia - a bit of fresh water and rest is often enough to get them back on their feet (or wings). 'Let's help our feathered friends through this odd patch of nature.' The ants fly in swarms to boost their chances of reproduction and defend themselves against predators, according to the museum. Advertisement The ants are triggered to reproduce by a shift in temperature from wet weather to hot humid conditions. By the end, billions of ants will have taken to the skies. Flying ants only live up to a couple of days after flying ant day. This is why it is common to see hundreds of dead ants on footpaths and car bonnets after the event. Advertisement What are flying ants and how to protect your home from the swarms: Often referred to as alates, flying ants are fertile male and female ants whose sole purpose is to reproduce and start a new colony. The most common type of flying ant is the black garden variety (the Lasius niger), whose nests have a single queen and anything from 5,000 to 15,000 workers. Flying ants are not dangerous insects and are unlikely to bite. Even though they're harmless, flying ants are still annoying - but fortunately, there are many household items which can be used to get rid once and for all. Spraying with dish-washing soap mixed with water can dehydrate the ants. Asparteme-based sweeter is said to be effective. Combining this with juice to form a paste means the critters will carry it back to their colony - killing off some of the ant population in the process. Distributing some insecticidal powder around window and door openings can also prevent the ants from entering your home. Rentokil also says to clean up after yourself and keep food and rubbish bags sealed tightly.
