Have you been watching Wimbledon and started to wonder why there are a lot of small flying insects on the camera?

Well the answer may be pretty simple.

One thing summer guarantees is flying ants everywhere and anywhere and today may just be a special day for it.

As the Birmingham Mail reported, Flying Ant Day sees scores of the little creatures landing on clothing of residents across the UK - and London is no different.

One thing summer guarantees is flying ants everywhere and anywhere and today may just be a special day for it.
While tennis stars start to feel the heat, flying ants have taken to Wimbledon's courts

The flying ant period can actually last a few weeks, but experts say it typically builds up to a specific day.

On said day, residents can witness MILLIONS of flying ants all over the country as they fly around merrily (and annoy all of us).

One thing summer guarantees is flying ants everywhere and anywhere and today may just be a special day for it.
While tennis stars start to feel the heat, flying ants have taken to Wimbledon's courts

What is Flying Ant Day?

Male and female ants will sprout wings and venture out of their nests, seeking ants from other colonies to mate with.

It's a giant ant party, in many respects, with millions enjoying their "nuptial flight".

Why does it happen, though?

Good question.

Experts say the nuptial flight is a crucial part of the insect's developments, allowing them to reproduce and spawn scores of other creatures.

During the flight, virgin queens mate with males and then land to start a new colony.

The large numbers of flying ants which appear in a short space of time increase the chance of reproduction.

So, it's pretty important.

What species are the ants?

If you're swatting away the little creatures from your white work shirt, you'll be interested to know the variety is known as the Lasius niger.

Tell me more about them

One thing summer guarantees is flying ants everywhere and anywhere and today may just be a special day for it.
While tennis stars start to feel the heat, flying ants have taken to Wimbledon's courts

Their nests have a single queen and typically around 5,000 workers.

This figure can stretch to three times that number, though.

The ants you see over the course of the year will be mostly workers collecting food for their colony - and they are all female.

They survive for about a month, while the flying ants you see once a year are males and young queens.

Queens can live for over 10 years and spend most of their lives in their nest.

New queens, however, will leave to mate and found a colony of their own.

When will it occur?

That's tough to say - but it'll be soon.

It is thought Flying Ant Day occurs when a spell of wet weather is followed closely by hot humid weather.

Queen ants take their cue from the weather to seek males to mate with.

How do I get rid of them?

You can do anything from spraying the ants with effective agents, to catching them with sticky tape or tin cans.

Should I get rid of them?

Perhaps not.

They aerate soil, help to cycle nutrients, improve garden fertility and control pests.

Flying ants also provide a vital food resource for many species of birds, particularly swifts and gulls.

So, they may be annoying, but they do a lot of good.

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