Why are there loads of flying ants around today?

Question

Why are there loads of flying ants around today?

Answer 1

because bugs like sexytime =]

Answer 2

so it wasn't just me thinking of this, i was delivering around croydon this afternoon and there were 3 on my windscreen while i was in the garage, then driving south as i was on the m23 just outside cousldon all i could hear was a tapping noise above the windscreen then 3 or 4 hit the screen and it was more of these things. i think they too big to be flying ants, more like mozzies, just as ugly though.

maybe cos it's been hotter today they have all hatched which doesn't give much hope for the rest of the week

Answer 3

If I had bothered to check I could have saved 5 points by not asking the same question!

Answer 4

During a few days in July or August they swarm and mate.

For more info go to :

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/sitemap/serv...

Answer 5

For some reason, I am not sure why, all the ants in a given area swarm on the same day. The male ants fly to try and mate with the queen. Once that has happened she starts a new nest and their wings fall off.

Answer 6

Every summer, when the temperature is just right, they take to the wing as a prelude for having s*x.  The high fliers are the most attractive, and an ant only gets this kind of opportunity once in a lifetime at the most.

Answer 7

The typical ants that you're familiar with are workers, who are non-reproductive females that lack wings.  When a colony of ants reproduces, it creates and releases reproductive case members, both males and queens.

In response to environmental conditions (temperature, rainfall, time of year), many colonies of the same species synchronize mating flights so that their males and queens will have the opportunity to have s*x with ants from other colonies.  They are attracted to one another with s*x pheromones, and usually many males will be attempting to have s*x with the new queens.

After the mating flight, the males will die and the newly mated queens will go to form a new colony, though most will not survive the process (as they'll get eaten, or put a nest in a bad spot, or too close to an established colony which will outcompete her....)