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

Just listening to an ant expert talking about this. Today is expected to be the big day for ants across the UK, this is the day they all take to wing and fly about doing whatever they do.

I'm glad to say we don't have ants near here, but I did once live in a place with sandy soil that was completely alive with ants. On 'Flying Ant Day' the air was filled with these larger, winged ants. The birds had a feast, eating the ants as fast as they could grab them as they emerged.

As this is ASK, I wondered if you're plagued by ants today? Was this ant expert correct in his prediction?

Oh god, no!

*s to close all the windows and doors*

Actually, it's quite cool here so far. I saw (and squished) one flying ant yesterday, but I haven't seen one yet today. *crosses fingers*

I noticed a few clouds of insects as I cycled in today, but didn't stop to see what they were. Quite possibly flying ants - I'll have to make sure I keep my mouth shut when cycling home.

<BB<

Isn't there some national survey going on with these? Maybe we should be reporting them on some website or t'other.

Yes we had it here yesterday, last evening, big time. I find it fascinating and lots of 'workers' everywhere mopping up the males who die after the mating flight, taken back to the nest for food.

The place I've just moved out of, we had terrible flying ant problems. This year we seemed to have nipped the problem early with some strategically deployed Raid, but last year and the year before, they were swarming all over. There were certain places they seemed to congregate, such as ceiling lamp-shade in our lounge. Annoyingly, spraying this with Raid caused them to flop down in death right onto our coffee table.
I'm glad to say this new place seems much better for pest exclusion.

Happened here on Monday..

Seems they have an abundance of ants in Scotland.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-18970447

They're covered these ants nests with chicken wire to stop the birds getting at them.

They're covered these.........

They've covered these..... perview is my friend.

It was Tuesday here. Late, this year, I thought.

Mol

Question: is it the same day in all parts of UK?

(As I understand it, the optimum wheat harvest day in USA (in good years) tends to move North at (about a mile?) a day, thus allowing contractors to keep going.)

I don't know Rod, ants have evolved to be successful social insects, I guess they time their flights so that they happen at the same time to lessen the effect the predatory effect of birds (or those with cans of Zum) Also I believe they mate on the wing, as effers says, so more than one colony at a time emerging and taking to the skies would vary the gene pool.

But obviously there must be local variations depending on weather conditions. I was just surprised to hear an expert announce an official day for this event.

ps I just love those mossy ant hills in Scotland. I think if I'd been born generations back, I might have ended up as a bug hunter. Insects hold a particular fascination for me.

I don't think we've had it here yet and I usually notice - I keep indoors when I see the flying ants massing on the pavement.
Lots of ants about though, some of them burrowing into our living room Time to get the ant spray out.

I witnessed them taking off on Tuesday as well!!

Not so many as in previous years..I think ours may have been some what flooded out by the rain this year. They live under the patio and I'm sure that one day the whole house will slide into Antworld...

it's one of the little known facts about your village - the place is built on an ant heap!

Why do people feel the need to kill ants?They are beneficial to the ecology of the planet.They scavenge all the rubbish and detritus and help to keep a clean world.

It's the same with wasps..they are marvellous predators and keep garden pests down..and yet people destroy their nests.

I only kill the ants that get indoors. Most wildlife I leave alone, it's all part of the ecosystem.
We've even managed to live with wasp nests in the loft.

Today was thunderbug day. *shudder*

Today was midge day here. There were so many of them down by the river that I had to stick my head under the tap back at the office to get them out of my hair.

Not in the UK but every summer day is ant day here!

I have them everywhere in the house, obviously mostly in the kitchen where I am rapidly running out of plastic boxes to keep food in. I bulk buy sparkling water and the ants are currently eating their way through the shrink wrap round each six-pack and then chewing their way through the labels (I can only assume they like the taste of the glue used to stick the labels on!).