Experts predict a rise in flying ant activity soon, attributed to favorable weather conditions across the UK. Known as Flying Ant Day, this annual event marks the mating flight of winged ants in large swarms. While traditionally a single day, it can span multiple days or even weeks.
This year’s Flying Ant Day is anticipated to arrive earlier and be more intense than previous years, as per specialists at Best Ants UK. These flying ants, known as alates, are typically the mature queens and males of the black garden ant species, with queens reaching lengths of up to 15 millimeters.
Urban areas in the UK tend to witness flying ant swarms earlier than rural regions due to the urban heat island effect, where warmer temperatures accelerate ant activity. Swarms usually initiate in southern areas like Cornwall and Kent before spreading northward throughout the country.