Flying Ant Day 2021 hit Surrey when swarms of insects were spotted across the county.
SurreyLive captured the insects as they gathered around a gutter in the Lingfield area.
It comes as the phenomenon known as Flying Ant Day sweeps across the UK between July and August every year.
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Although known as Flying Ant Day, the unusual event is actually more common as it doesn’t happen on a day, or even the same day, every year.
Instead, schools of the winged insects emerge across the UK during the summer months, largely due to the warmer and drier weather.
Traditionally, you can spot them after the rain.
The Flying Ant Day phenomenon itself is usually viewed as the end of the ant season, when people notice hundreds of thousands of swarms at once.
Last year it fell on July 12th, reports Der Spiegel.
Professor Adam Hart of the University of Gloucestershire said: “The really busy time seems to be around the third week of July but it really depends on the weather.
“Sometimes we see the first wave around Wimbledon and if the weather holds we can see surfacing throughout August.”
Did you see the flying ants Tell us in the comments below.
How long do the flying ants live?
The flying ants you see on the day of the flying ant are males and young queens.
Males do not do any work in the ant nest, so after the day of the flying ants they have served their purpose.
You will only be alive a few days after the event.
Flying ants in Lingfield.
(Image: SurreyLive)
How to get rid of flying ants
Flying ants are known to bite people, but don’t worry, they can’t harm you.
The NHS website states that bites and stings are “generally harmless, although you are likely to feel a crack.”
Still, there are ways to get rid of them if necessary.
Here are some simple tips to get rid of flying ants.
1. Catch them with duct tape
2. Use artificial sweeteners
3. Use insecticide powder
