Ant Swarms

[Madelinew]

The ants are swarming all across my local area. Wherever I go, there they are. Year after year, they all seem to go at the same time so what is the common trigger? I have noticed that it usually happens on a hot day with little wind and clear skies. After lunch.

It's only just started in the last couple of hours - I was about to go out and do some gardening and changed my mind! They haven't gone high enough yet to get the swifts' interest but I expect that to change soon. I'm assuming, from the numbers that go, that there is a very low survival rate.

So is there a specific trigger?

What happens to the nest once the flying ants have gone?

Are they heading off to start new colonies? Mate?

Do they go at the same time across the whole country or is just very specific areas?

[Madelinew]

Swifts are heading in now!

[Paul mabbott]

Not up here yet but soon: disturbed a colony of garden black ant yesterday and there were winged males - but no 'queens' ....

[Paul mabbott]

The aim of the colony/population every year is to produce winged, sexual ants which, when mature, fly off - small males, large females when they touch down on ground (which my be no further than a few centimetres from their starting point!) they rapidly get rid of their wings, find a mate, mate, find a suitable place for a new colony. As you say, many of them don't get that far.

Depending on the species, the old colony continues and some of the new queens may return ......

Don't think there's a particular 'trigger' but date of nuptial flight is probably determined mainly by temperature over spring/summer months but also food availability. If it is warm and there is plenty of food then flight will be earlier; so nuptial flights will generally be earlier in the south than in the north of the country. The final three weeks of July will cover the flight period for most years for most of England.

Originally Posted by Madelinew

....... I'm assuming, from the numbers that go, that there is a very low survival rate.

So is there a specific trigger?

What happens to the nest once the flying ants have gone?

Are they heading off to start new colonies? Mate?

Do they go at the same time across the whole country or is just very specific areas?

[Adam Cheeseman]

I'd echo what Paul says and that humidity seems to be key. Here in North Surrey there are quite a few flying around today, but no swarms as such.

Cheers,

Adam