h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Why do they all decide to take to the air at the same time?

PP

The tower probably told them to do it. Or maybe it´s just like with pigeons.

Flying ants are the females, so it could be they're leaving in mass disgust at the behaviour of the men. Or perhaps PMT.

I get them in my home every year.
They flew out today, from behind my fireplace.
I keep a good ant-killer spray & squirt it everywhere.
Then hoover them all up.
Infernal things.

They all take to the air at once as a survival mechanism.

The winged ants are the future queens of new nests, hence why the b****rs are so large. When the climate is right the ants set off in search of a new nesting ground each. They all do it at once to ensure safety in numbers, that way at least a few will survive to once more take root in my bloody garden.

Every year.

Every damned year.

But how is it that the ants at the back of Archangel Galaxy Babe's fireplace knew that the ants in the hospital carpark at Stevenage and the ones in my friend Sue's garden knew that it was time. Never seen one wearing a Rolex.

PP

...because they were all fired up in ant-icipation (sorry)

You should catch 'em, fry 'em and eat them on toast - lovely

everyone with an ant-infestation.
The Apathetic, consider yourself lucky if you *only* have them in your garden.
I've had them in my home EVERY year since I've lived here, just over 16 years.
Every year, the nest bursts and they fill my home.
I've tried everything I can think of...ant powder, antkiller spray, having my home cavity-wall-insulated {last year}, called in the council, who explained that they can't do anything because the nest is outside in my garden.

So, how do you explain the Queen Ants in my living room then?

I'm going to save up & get the professionals in, I reckon.
When I first moved here, there was a beautiful cherry blossom tree at the entrance to my garden. One year it failed to blossom, so I got a gardner in to check why. He found that the insides of the tree had been eaten away by ants, and I had to have the tree cut down.

I once read a short story that the only things to survive a nuclear holocaust were ants.
Wouldn't surprise me.

I had a swarm of ants in my kitchen once, it was terrifying! Surprising how many you can kill by swatting with a tea towel when really hyped up. So I can imagine in part your annual experience and sympathise.

The ants in my garden must be behind yours, I shall keep watch.

Wasp nests in the cavity wall are my real problem, they return every year in spite of the various noxious sprays we squirt through the entry hole. They even chew through that foam insulation in a can that we used to plug gaps in the roof to stop the wasps getting into the attic.

Wasps!!!
If there's a thing worse than ants it's gotta be wasps!
Oh, I'm so glad I don't have a wasp nest, you almost make me appreciate the ants!
{I said "almost"}
I'm allergic to wasp stings.
I have to take anti-hystamine immediately, so I don't go into shock.
Still get a huge reaction to the sting though.

A few years ago, a wasp got into my dress while I was at a theme park with my family.
It stung my thigh.
The staff got me home in time, as they had no anti-hystamine in their first aid room.
The sting was as large as the palm of my hand.

Thanks for telling me that, Caerwynn, you have actually made me feel better about the ant situation.
Just goes to show, there's always someone worse off than yourself.
Caerwynn.

Nice to be appreciated

I have never been stung by a wasp, so I don't know if I am allergic. I just keep well away from them and only squirt stuff into their nests when they are tucked up for the night.

My husband is really terrified of them, so I have to be the one trying to get rid of the pesky things!

He's always game for sneaking around at the dead of night when I hear a strange noise, which is usually the cat trying to get into the pedal bin!

Still no sign of the ants flying here. Unless I have missed the mass exodus from under the garage.

What was the date that the ants took to the air, can anyone remember?

*checks diary*

Thursday, the 26th July.

Damned Thursdays.....

You think ants are bad? Well I've got slugs in my kitchen. The little bleeders come under the back door from the garden and wander all over the place. Yes, I've tried slug pellets, I've tried salt, I've even tried sealing up the bottom of the door. But nothing seems to work.

I guess I wouldn't mind too much, but I have to get into the kitchen to get to the light switch. Hence I have to risk a slug field in the dark every time I go into the kitchen at night.

Do I own a pair of slippers - you bet I do!

Sheesh. Wasps can be all over the place in seconds. But with slugs you can just pick them up when they´re a few centimeters from the door. Where´s the big threat?

Firstly its scrubbing the trails off of the floor, walls, refridgerator, you name it. But mainly its the cold wet ploping noise they make when you step on one in the dark

I have noticed that ants fly when it gets really hot and dry so I think that it must be that the nest must reach a certain temperature to trigger the survival mechanism.

I also have a slug infestation but they get in everywhere because this is an old house with many access areas.I did think of putting beer down then thought why should I throw 'em a party?
So I guess it's wet,damp and slugs or hot,dry and ants.Can't win it would appear.
Is there a slug or ant smiley?

How about turning on the lights? Even if they hurry away like cockroaches, you should have a fair chance at getting to them

Read what I first said. I've got to get across the kitchen to hit the light switch in the first place.

I hope I don't have nightmares now.
Poor you.
Take a torch to bed with you?
Just about the only suggestion I can come up with at this late hour.

Are the slughs actually crawling UP to get under your door?
Only I was thinking if you greased the wall, outside...they are slimy, and if they tried to crawl on something slimy...
~shudders~
I'm off to bed & hope I don't dream about creepy crawlies.