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Original poster

We have a huge swarm of flying ants. Is it your flying ants day today and what do you do about yours?

131 replies

FlyingAunts · 09/08/2023 15:30

We've lived in this house for decades and we've never noticed any ants or flying ants here before. Today we've got a huge swarm of flying ants in the garden. They are crawling all over a stone wall, down onto the lawn and flying thick in the air. The garden is unusable, especially with the DC. We are in the UK and rural. We're a very nature-friendly family usually but these are awful and they are everywhere!

They are meant to fly on the same day, depending on the weather and whether urban or rural. I find this rather spooky!

Have you got flying ants today and what, if anything, have you done about the beasties?

Here's some information:

Flying ant day: when winged ants take their nuptial flight | Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)

Flying ant day: when winged ants take their nuptial flight

Get the facts on when and why ants grow wings and swarm.

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/when-why-winged-ants-swarm-nuptial-flight.html

OP posts:
Yolkpoker · 09/08/2023 15:31

Weird I just got the train, full of flying ants! It was horrible

Hiyawotcha · 09/08/2023 15:32

Got them here today. Far south west.

Delatron · 09/08/2023 15:33

Yes we have them here in Bucks. First day I could actually get the covers off the garden furniture, I sit down and feel things flying all over me. I’m sure one stung me. Annoying!

illiterato · 09/08/2023 15:33

We had them in Dorset about a month ago. I can always tell as the gulls go mental and are all over the roads trying to eat them.

Menopausehaver · 09/08/2023 15:34

No ants here in Surrey/London suburbs

Kic · 09/08/2023 15:35

We're in an urban area and had ours just over a week ago.

The back garden was out of bounds for a few hours but then they left us in peace. I think it's just a case of waiting it out.

MeinKraft · 09/08/2023 15:35

Haven't noticed. Are they flying off to another country, like birds?

TheInterceptor · 09/08/2023 15:35

Hiyawotcha · 09/08/2023 15:32

Got them here today. Far south west.

Same here. Cornwall? I try to live and let live with wildlife, but flying ants really push my limits!

han01uk · 09/08/2023 15:36

Ours was about 2 weeks ago (Cambs), literally everywhere.. I despise them!

Crunchiethatfridayfeeling · 09/08/2023 15:37

Yes. First day off when it's sunny in ages and I can't sit in the garden. Hope they bugger off soon!

Original poster
FlyingAunts · 09/08/2023 15:37

Actually in the train, @Yolkpoker ?! How awful!

Just when you need an officious ticket inspector to throw them all off at the next station...

OP posts:
justasking111 · 09/08/2023 15:39

They're so late this year. We've been five miles offshore sailing and been hit by a swarm

TonTonMacoute · 09/08/2023 15:40

We had a swarm in DS's room on Sunday (in Cornwall). I just sprayed them all off with ant killer. If they are outside I just let them get on with it.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 09/08/2023 15:41

Yes , I saw a boiling swarm on the ground this morning. I rushed off to get the ant powder, gave them a dose and am now locked in the house. I loathe and detest them.

we were supposed to be barbecuing tonight but I’m not having the door open….

crocodileboots · 09/08/2023 15:42

We had some about ten days ago, they were everywhere I went for an entire day.

Original poster
FlyingAunts · 09/08/2023 15:45

Delatron · 09/08/2023 15:33

Yes we have them here in Bucks. First day I could actually get the covers off the garden furniture, I sit down and feel things flying all over me. I’m sure one stung me. Annoying!

This is the thing, too. First nice weather without rain for ages and the little buggers using polite term have to spoil it! Some of them do sting, to add injury to insult.

OP posts:
Original poster
FlyingAunts · 09/08/2023 15:47

illiterato · 09/08/2023 15:33

We had them in Dorset about a month ago. I can always tell as the gulls go mental and are all over the roads trying to eat them.

Send us your gulls! We are landlocked and not a hungry gull in sight.

OP posts:
GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 09/08/2023 15:47

Ours was about a month ago, I think. Before the end of term, certainly, as we noticed them as we were walking back from school.

Original poster
FlyingAunts · 09/08/2023 15:53

Menopausehaver · 09/08/2023 15:34

No ants here in Surrey/London suburbs

We obviously need to move to Surrey/London suburbs then. Unless your flying ant day is still to come...

OP posts:
OctogenarianDecathlete · 09/08/2023 15:53

Yep! Our little town was literally full of them! The kind of swarms where you don't want to talk because they'll go in your mouth!

Not quite as far SW as PP

SquashPenguin · 09/08/2023 15:55

About 20 of the bastards got back inside the car with me in Abergavenny. Horrible!

SerafinasGoose · 09/08/2023 15:56

They bring the wasps out in spades too. There were some flying in a thick cloud out of a nest in a drain on my property: umpteen wasps were hanging out on the patio waiting to nab one. Gruesome!

Bananasplitlady · 09/08/2023 15:57

Am in East London - we had them a month or so ago but not 5 mins ago went into the garden to get the washing in and there's a load all over my back door and fence. Don't think I've had two lots here before.

FrigginFrig · 09/08/2023 15:58

Yes twice I've had them in my back garden, once last week and again today. Today they were all over and around the back door.
I sprayed them with zoflora Blush

WildFlowerBees · 09/08/2023 15:58

Here too in the SW, none in my garden but now I feel I should shut the doors just in case!

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