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

[FlyingAunts]

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)

Nothing in Birmingham.

But you've just reminded me that two years ago we had an ant infestation and got a flying ant day INSIDE.

Last year my car broke down on flying ant day. It was 32 degrees and I had to sit in there with the windows rolled up waiting for the tow truck.

Yep always the same day round here usually early July
not noticed any this year though

If I can call myself a flying ant expert based on having one swarm and reading one Natural History Museum report, I don't think they migrate, at least not the males who only live a day or two.

"Why do ants fly?
An ant colony can only expand so much. At some point a new queen will need to strike out on her own to begin a new colony. She needs to meet and mate with a male from a different colony and find a new area in which to start building her nest. Growing wings and flying enables her to do this.
So each year, alates emerge from nests and take flight. They aren't interested in people or picnics - they are just looking for a mate.
The large winged females and the smaller winged males are often seen flying joined together. This is known as the nuptial flight."

Also Cambs, and we had them about a fortnight ago too. Makes my nose feel itchy just thinking about them.

We're on Dartmoor and the DC have just come in from playing outside because it's flying ant day and they were fed up with all the ants! My chickens are loving it!

We had our flying ant day a few weeks ago (S Wales). Like a previous poster said, the birds were circling above picking them off. Not seen any today but I’m still at work.

I've just seen one when coming back indoors, greater Manchester area. I'm not going out to look for more.

Cambs and we had a swarm in the garden this afternoon. Just a little one though so could still easily use the garden. The kids were fascinated.

Yep, today's the day here. South west. Horrible things.

They swarmed in the front garden this morning. We're out the back right now, and although they're around, it's not too bad so I'm persisting with the paddling pool because DD is grumpy and doesn't want to be indoors.

Yes! I just noticed them when I was driving home this afternoon. South Wales. It’s very humid. I was thinking it’s late this year.

We have some swifts and bats in our roof - it's a swift and bat nursery every year - but the bats won't be out till dusk and the swifts haven't been up since early this morning so far. We give them free B&B for decades and they're not here when we need them!

Seen two lots outside today.

There's a few flying about in my garden, I'm in Hertford. Was just about to go and sit out with a coffee, but staying in now. I hate the dozy, flying buggers !

Flying ants emerged from a crack in my concrete by the back door along with little black ants. I poured bleach and boiling water down the hole and today there is a flying and black ant graveyard at the back.

None here in Ludlow!

Yes got them in my garden today too. I poured boiling water where they were flying out from and it seems to have stopped them

What have I just read?! That the mating queens grow wings especially and then chew them off again afterwards...

Oh yes there are! I hit a swarm near Croydon, waiting at traffic lights on the A23 at Fiveways at lunchtime. I had the roof down. It was horrible.

The swifts must have been reading over my shoulder because they're up, out and flying now. Hopefully they'll get more than a few of the little buggers.

Same for me in Berkshire!

Did you do it on the grass the boiling water? I scorched my grass last year doing that 😱

We have them today - there are loads coming out of a crack just outside our front door but they're really tiny. We had a half-hearted attempt about a fortnight ago as well. We just leave them to it.

Got loads here in south wales

They are just after a shag, which if there are lucky, they get before they die. Apart from a few queens who manage to form new colonies.

Its a short and pretty pitiful life. I leave them to our, as annoying as they are. It doesn't last for long, and we'll all still be here, and they'll be dead.