If you've just woken up to a sky filled with millions of flying critters buzzing around everywhere, you may be wondering what on Earth is going on? Well, it's Flying Ant Day, an annual event when winged ants take to the air en masse in search of mates and new colonies.
What is Flying Ant Day?
Flying Ant Day is the informal term for the period when large numbers of winged ants emerge simultaneously to mate and establish new colonies.
When does Flying Ant Day happen?
It typically occurs on warm, humid days in summer, when conditions are ideal for their nuptial flights – the mating flight of some insects, such as social bees and ants.
How long does it last?
The phenomenon typically lasts for just a few days, though the exact timing can vary by location and environmental conditions.
What are flying ants?
Flying ants are the winged reproductive members of an ant colony, also known as alates. These include both male ants and future queen ants. Their primary purpose is to leave their nest, mate during their nuptial flight, and establish new colonies. The males usually die shortly after mating, while the fertilised queens lose their wings and start new colonies.
Various ant species participate in this event, with the most common in the UK being the black garden ant (Lasius niger).
How many ants are there in these swarms?
Each ant colony can produce thousands of these winged ants, and with many colonies participating at the same time, the number can easily reach millions in one given area. It’s one of nature's greatest wildlife spectacles.
Can flying ants really make seagulls drunk?
You may have heard reports of gulls eating so many flying ants that it makes them 'drunk'? Gulls often eat large quantities of these ants when they swarm, and the ants contain formic acid. Consuming a lot of formic acid can affect the seagulls' behaviour, making them seem disoriented or drunk. This phenomenon has been observed, particularly during mass swarming events.
However, according to some experts, including entomology enthusiast Dr Rebecca Nesbi, formic acid is found in higher concentrations in Formica ants than in the species we’re seeing most commonly on flying ant day. "My answer to the question 'can gulls get drunk on flying ants?' would be No," said Dr Nesbi. "Although formic acid can be toxic to birds, it is more likely that they are just too hot and full."
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