Latest news with #flyingants
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
ALEXANDRA SHULMAN'S NOTEBOOK: Perfect night is ruined... by a swarm of flying ants
We were in the garden early one evening last week, planning to have supper with friends and enjoy the long, warm night. The wine was opened, the dips were in place and the gossiping had started. And then, we started to notice them. The ants. At first there was the odd one on the table which could be swiped away, but soon it became obvious something very strange was happening. The ants were flying in rather than crawling up from the floor, landing on our arms, legs and in our hair, dropping into the glasses of wine. Being very British and wanting to make the most of this warm weather, we tried to ignore them, but eventually there was no denying that this was deeply unpleasant. The ants were falling down the front of shirts and dresses. Ant-laced houmous is nobody's ideal dip. I feared for what would happen once I brought out the pasta. Eventually we admitted defeat and moved back indoors. 'It's the Night of the Flying Ants,' my friend Fran said, which sounded like an old Eastern proverb rather than an actual event. But she turned out to be correct. It was indeed The Night of the Flying Ants, which is a brief period when young queens leave their nests to mate and start new colonies. They leave on the same night but unfortunately, they hang around romancing for several days. It happens during a very hot spell, usually in July. I have yet to discover whether there is a connection between the ants and the swarm of ladybirds that stopped play at the Test Match between England and India at Lord's the following evening. I'll never learn to get over tennis FOMO FOMO – the fear of missing out – is not a condition I suffer from in any circumstance other than around tennis. I couldn't care less about not being invited to a party, but with a fantastic Wimbledon that has kept me glued to the telly more than ever, I lament not being part of a tennis-playing gang. To put this into context: I used to be quite good at tennis. As a child I had lessons and our father was determined his offspring would play brilliantly. 'Keep your eye on the ball till it hits the racquet,' he would shout. Although I was never a likely rival to Martina Navratilova, I was passable. Tennis was one of the few games I enjoyed, and until relatively recently I played singles matches and also felt confident enough to join in a game of doubles, not minding if I was the least talented player. But in the past year or so something has changed and in comparison to others around me I am now really hopeless – and the more hopeless I am, the less inclined I am to play. It's not helped by my entirely unscientific survey of tennis players of my acquaintance, which concludes that they come into the hyper-competitive personality type. There is an obvious solution to all this, which would be to have some lessons, but that is where the problem really lies. As soon as I have to learn something, it becomes a chore rather than a pleasure, so despite the fact that I could no doubt scrub up my game, I stubbornly refuse to get coaching. The odd foray into taking lessons only confirms that I simply don't want someone to tell me to change my grip. So, the truth is I'm probably stuck now as the outsider. Perhaps it's not traditional FOMO I am experiencing but Frustration Of Missing Out. With only myself to blame. We all have one of doze days, Hugh... My sympathies to actor Hugh Grant, who was shown on television having a nice snooze in the Royal Box at Wimbledon. As a borderline narcoleptic myself, I am frequently falling asleep at inappropriate moments. The last was at home at a dinner we were giving when I jolted awake to hear myself saying to my boyfriend, much to the astonishment of the assembled guests: 'David, I think it's time we went home.' Why the caped look is out of this world It's hard to know what's going on with the trend for caped evening wear. Both Brigitte Macron and the Princess of Wales appeared in caped gowns at the Windsor State banquet last week, while Princess Maxima of Netherlands wore a vibrant lime green caped jumpsuit at a Nato summit in The Hague. They certainly looked impressive but in a strangely androgynous comic book way. More like an empress in a sci-fi world than a glamorous woman on Earth. Failed memory test I won't easily forget On the 'no good deed goes unpunished' front, I was invited to take part in a survey by Imperial Health Care. Since Imperial were in charge of an operation for cancer I had last year, I thought I should give something back for their research and agreed. The first section was fine, with the usual enquiries about previous illness, gender, race etc. The second part was about cognitive ability. No problem, I thought. But by their calculations I come into the bottom 30 per cent for my age in just about every category including planning, verbal reasoning, and delayed and immediate memory. I accept I'm never going to be a good tennis player but… really? Accessories that are only for moneybags It's unfathomable that anybody would pay £7.4 million for a handbag, even the original Birkin just sold at Sotheby's. But then it's equally unfathomable that the most sought-after contemporary handbags cost what they do. The Row's Marlo leather bag comes in at £5,380 and is the go-to for those-in-the-know wealthy shoppers. Worth is only what somebody is prepared to pay.
The Sun
12-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Households urged to spray vinegar & essential oils around the home this week
A SWARM of flying ants is set to hit the UK as early as this week - but an expert has shared some key things you can do to prevent them in your home. Every summer brings the phenomenon known as Flying Ant Day - which can fall as early as mid-July - but it's often rarely just a single day. 3 Instead, it's a series of swarming events when winged ants, flying males and future queens, take to the skies in search of mates. The winged ants are harmless and won't bite or invade your property permanently - in fact they can be beneficial as they feed birds, aerate soil and recycle nutrients. However, they can understandably be a nuisance if you want to sit out with a drink in the sun. Paul Blackhurst, Technical Academy Head at Rentokil Pest Control, said: 'While you might spot a few flying ants on most warm summer days, optimal weather conditions can lead to the emergence of tens of millions of ants in giant swarms over a span of weeks across Britain. 'Contrary to its name, 'flying ant day', known colloquially as 'flant day', does not occur on a single day each year, and such events can occur in different areas of the country when the weather - temperature, humidity, and wind conditions are favourable. 'Humidity plays a crucial role in the life cycle of ants, particularly during the nuptial flight, keeping their wings and bodies moist as they mate on the wing. 'Once the mating has taken place, it's all over for the smaller male ants who will fall to the ground and die, while the new, now fertile, queen loses her wings and buries herself underground to form a new nest.' While the process is natural, it can be frustrating if you have plans of barbecues and picnics in the sun. Here are some ant prevention tips from the pest experts at Rentokil… 'Killer' ants invading US as carnivorous insects attack humans with needle-like bite – and number will spike in weeks SEAL ENTRY To prevent ants and other pests from entering your home, it's important to seal any cracks or gaps around doors, windows, and pipework using caulk or appropriate sealants. By keeping windows and doors closed—especially during peak insect activity—you significantly reduce the chance of flying ants and other pests getting inside. Installing fly screens on your doors and windows provides effective protection against flying ants, allowing you to enjoy fresh air without the risk of pests coming in. REMOVE FOOD 3 Regularly sweep and clean under kitchen appliances and cabinets to remove any food crumbs or debris that may attract ants and other insects. Promptly wiping up spills, whether solid or liquid, helps eliminate potential food sources for ants and prevents them from being drawn into your home. Keeping food sealed in airtight containers reduces odors and prevents ants from accessing your supplies, making your kitchen less inviting to pests. Pet food left out can attract ants quickly, so be sure to remove any uneaten food shortly after your pet finishes eating. KEEP YOUR HOME CLEAN 3 Use bins with secure, tightly fitting lids to stop ants from accessing food waste, and empty them regularly to avoid buildup. Clean surfaces thoroughly with a strong detergent to eliminate the invisible pheromone trails left by foraging ants, which can otherwise lead more ants straight to a food source in your home. Vinegar spray and other essential oils can also be used as natural deterrents around entry points. If ants do find their way in, don't kill them near food as this can attract more to follow. Instead vacuum them up and remove them from your house. Ant prevention tips for your home and garden FLYING ant day, also known as the nuptial flight and colloquially as 'flant day', is a natural phenomenon in which high numbers of ants with wings, called alates, simultaneously take to the skies in search of mates from other colonies. Here are some ant prevention tips for the pest experts at Rentokil... Block entry points 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.
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Banish flying ants from home with £5 B&M gadget this weekend – as tens of MILLIONS to take to skies in ‘massive swarm'
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. 3 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
- Climate
- The Independent
How to get rid of flying ants: An expert's advice
A bug expert has revealed his top tips for tackling flying ants as the annual "flying ant day" phenomenon is set to return to Britain and Ireland as warmer weather persists. Swarms of winged black garden ants emerge from their nests for a "nuptial flight" — their reproductive phase — typically in July or August. They favour hot and humid conditions with low winds, ideally around 25C. Speaking on This Morning, Professor James Logan explained that shutting doors, using a screen, and putting your food away in sealable containers can help combat the insects. "The best thing you can do is just leave them alone, lock up the holes in your house and stop them coming in," he concluded.
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Flying ants: why this year's mating season could be longer and more frenzied than ever
Name: Flying ants. Age: Their ancestors have been with us since the end of the Jurassic period. Appearance: Like ants, but airborne. What kind of ant can fly? They're just regular black garden ants. The wingless ones you see walking around most of the time are the infertile female workers. And the winged ones? They're the males and the young queens that take to the air on what is commonly called flying ant day. When is that? There isn't really such a thing – the flying ants emerge over several weeks, usually around the end of July, with a peak period lasting a few days. But it can certainly feel like flying ant day when the insects in your area are swarming. Why do they do it? For mating with other colonies. The mating happens in mid‑air, which is why it's also called the nuptial flight. So it's like a mile-high club for ants? Not exactly. The Natural History Museum senior curator Suzanne Ryder describes ant mating as 'quick and violent, with the male dying shortly afterwards'. What about the queens? Once they've been fertilised, they chew off their own wings and start laying eggs. Great. So what day can I expect to be surrounded by thousands of flying, fornicating, dying ants this year? Predictions for this year's peak period are 22 to 25 July – or earlier in urban areas – and it looks set to be the worst one yet. Why? The climate crisis. Alternating warm and wet conditions could trigger the appearance of 'tens of millions of them taking to the skies in massive swarms', according to Paul Blackhurst, the head of Rentokil's Technical Academy. Is that enough to blot out the sun? Probably not. But they can be a temporary nuisance; occasionally, as in 2018, they arrive early enough to disrupt Wimbledon. What should I do? Best to keep your doors, windows and mouth shut during the peak. You mean just put up with it? Yes – black garden ants are an important food source for birds and a friend to the butterfly, while their tunnelling is vital for improving soil quality. Have they considered spreading their mating period over a more leisurely timescale? The swarming is supposed to improve their chances of survival by overwhelming predators. And overwhelming picnics in the process. They're not doing it to inconvenience you. Do say: 'Flying ant fortnight seems to come earlier every year.' Don't say: 'It looks set to be another hot ant summer.'
