The UK is in the middle of flying ant season, seeing humans and pets alike burdened by these nuisance insects.
While there are a number of strategies when it comes to coping with and avoiding these ants, many have been left wondering where they actually come from.
Whether your area is suffering from a plague of flying ants or you are curious, here is everything you need to know.
Where do flying ants come from and why do they all appear at the same time?
According to the Natural History Museum, flying ants appear each summer on warm and humid days with not-so-windy conditions.
Flying ants emerge when queens begin producing virgin males and females. When these winged ants emerge from their nests, they scatter to maximise the chance of mating between different colonies.
One reason flying ants all appear at the same is because of the risk of predators. By appearing together, they can ensure safety in number and increase their chances of reproducing.
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How long do flying ants live?
After nuptial flight (the period when these ants fly), male ants usually only live for another day or two and will not live much longer than a week.
Queens on the other hand tend to live up to 15 years but will spend most of their lives in their nests.
They only spend a small portion of their lives as winged ants so they can establish their only colonies and spread out.
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