What should I do? Best to keep your doors, windows and mouth shut during the peak.
Millions of UK households are being warned to close their windows as swarms of a bug sweep the UK. Flying Ant Day, it is an annual event when millions of winged male and female ants fly out of their colonies to mate in the air.
Experts told the Guardian: “What should I do? Best to keep your doors, windows and mouth shut during the peak. You mean just put up with it? Yes – black garden ants are an important food source for birds and a friend to the butterfly, while their tunnelling is vital for improving soil quality.”
They added: “Have they considered spreading their mating period over a more leisurely timescale? The swarming is supposed to improve their chances of survival by overwhelming predators.
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“And overwhelming picnics in the process. They’re not doing it to inconvenience you.” According to Best Ants UK: “Flying Ant Day in 2025 is predicted to occur earlier than usual, with peak activity anticipated around 22 and 25 of July.”
UK households are told keeping windows and doors shut is one of the most effective methods of preventing flying insects from entering your home and installing a fly screen will prevent flying ants from entering your home, whilst still leaving windows and doors open.
Use a strong detergent to remove any pheromone trails foraging ants have laid down to direct other ants to a food source.
Paul Blackhurst, Technical Academy Head at Rentokil Pest Control, said: “Experts warn that this year could see larger-than-usual swarms of flying ants as we approach Flying Ant Day.
“This natural event, when vast numbers of winged ants, known as alates, take to the skies at once in search of mates from other colonies, could be one of the most prolific for years.
“The alternating wet and warm weather we have been experiencing recently is creating the perfect conditions for larger-than-usual swarms, as humidity is important in keeping the ants’ wings and bodies moist during flight and ‘mating on the wing’.
“Ideal weather conditions can trigger the appearance of tens of millions of them taking to the skies in massive swarms over several weeks across Britain.”
