Brits have been warned to keep their windows shut as a cloud of swarming insects is set to travel from the south to the north of the UK with the warming weather.
The phenomenon known as Flying Ant Day 2024 has arrived, but contrary to its name, it’s not confined to a single day. Instead, it spans several days when these winged creatures spring into action across different parts of the UK, depending on the weather conditions.
Flying Ant Day is highly ‘localised’, resulting in chaotic scenes of millions of insects swarming in one specific area for a day or two before another region experiences the same spectacle. This usually occurs around the same time each year, but not necessarily on the exact same day.
READ MORE Flying ant day warnings to millions as insects set to invade UK homes
This is because flying ants typically hatch and seek mates sometime in July or August, depending on the warmth and rainfall levels. Reports from London indicate that Flying Ant Day has officially commenced in the south, while the north of England is yet to witness this phenomenon, reports the Express.
With the onset of flying ants in the south, they are expected to start gathering across the rest of England in the coming days, gradually moving from south to north as the weather improves over the weekend. This event takes place when ants emerge from hibernation as the weather warms up, in search of a mate.
The RSB has shed light on the phenomenon, stating: “Weather turns out to be an absolutely critical factor in triggering ants to fly. By comparing records of flying ants with the nearest weather station data, we were able to untangle some of the factors that trigger ants to take to the sky.”
“Ants only flew when the temperature was above 13C and when the wind speed was less than 6.3 metres per second but overall ants like it calm and warm. During the course of the study, every day in the UK summer that had a mean temperature above 25C had ants flying somewhere.”
Residents are being advised to keep their windows shut to prevent swarms of these insects from entering their homes. However, the public is also being reminded not to harm or disturb these crucial creatures, as they not only contribute significantly to our ecosystem but also serve as a food source for many birds.
Adding further, the RSB says: “Flying ants are not harmful, so if some emerge in your garden or elsewhere it’s best to leave them alone as they’ll disappear once they fly off within a few hours.”
How to deal with flying ants
- Seal cracks and crevices around doors, windows, and pipework to block entry points.
- Sweep away food debris from under kitchen appliances and units promptly.
- Immediately clean any food or liquid spillages.
- Wherever possible, store your food in airtight containers.
- Clear away any pet food that isn’t eaten straight away.
- Make sure all rubbish bins have tightly sealed lids.
- The most effective method to prevent flying insects from entering your home is to keep windows and doors shut.
- By installing a fly screen, you can keep flying ants at bay while still enjoying the fresh air from open windows and doors. Additionally, using a strong detergent can help eliminate any pheromone trails that foraging ants may have left behind to guide others to food sources.
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