West Londoners say swarm of flying ants are 'horrendous' this year as new Londoners left baffled by 'ant apocalypse'

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West Londoners say swarm of flying ants are 'horrendous' this year as new Londoners left baffled by 'ant apocalypse'

A new Londoner has been left baffled after spotting "flying ants everywhere". They said they've been here for three weeks and have been surprised by the amount of critters.

Speaking on Reddit, they said: "This is my first summer in London and just today (July 18) in the Hammersmith area and maybe more I’ve notice hundreds of flying ants or some kind of bug I don’t recognize.

"I’ve been here for three weeks now and haven’t noticed this many since today in the mid afternoon/early evening. Is this normal? And does anyone know what they are specifically?"

READ MORE: One of Britain's most popular seaside towns where Londoners snap up property but locals are kept awake by 'pesky seagulls'

The ants are setting off to start new colonies

Londoners rushed to the comments to explain the phenomenon. One person said "They’re young queen ants looking to start their own colonies. Flying ant day is a thing in the UK." Another person added "It’s actually quite a violent day. The male ants violently breed with the females and die in doing so."

Others shared their own experience with the day as one wrote "Oh god is that today? You'll get used to it. Once a year every year." Another said "Omg they were horrendous today around Hammersmith! Never seen them so bad in my life."

A third Londoner said "Omg this is my second summer here and I thought it was some sort of ant apocalypse or something! I don’t remember it happening last year. Glad to find out this is a thing, I was so confused today!"

Flying ants are fertile adult ants whose sole purpose is to reproduce and start a new colony

Every summer, thousands of flying ants emerge from their nests all at the same time in an event known as Flying Ant Day. After emerging from their nests, the swarms can get so large they're spotted on weather radars.

Flying Ant Day happens when existing colonies have reached their maximum size. A new queen then leaves to mate with as many males as possible, growing wings to facilitate the process.

The ants appear in large swarms to protect them from predators and to increase their chances of finding a mate. After mating, the males die off and the queens chew off their own wings, finding a spot for a new colony and setting up their new homes.

Have a story we should be covering? Let us know at lea.seeberg@reachplc.com.

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