Flying ants

Stick8267

How do the nests all know to fly at the same time?

Travelled 6 miles home and nests were synchronised all the way back!

thegreatdivide

Flying ant day

"Flying ant day" is an informal term for the day on which queen ants emerge from the nest to begin their nuptial flight. In most species, the male ants also fly alongside them, although they are smaller and less noticeable. The queens fly around—some very long distances, and others going only a few meters—then mate, and drop to the ground where they lose their wings, and attempt to start a new ant colony. The mass of flying insects often attracts the attention of predators such as birds, and it is common to see flocks of feeding birds gorging on the readily available food.

This phenomenon occurs in many colonies simultaneously when the local weather conditions are appropriate, to reduce the effectiveness of predation and to ensure that the queens and males from different colonies stand a chance of meeting and interbreeding. It therefore has the appearance of being a 'timed' event or that the ants somehow communicate. However neither of these is likely to be the case - it is simply a common response to temperature, humidity and windspeed and time of year.

DIESELDOG

thegreatdivide wrote:

Flying ant day

"Flying ant day" is an informal term for the day on which queen ants emerge from the nest to begin their nuptial flight. In most species, the male ants also fly alongside them, although they are smaller and less noticeable. The queens fly around—some very long distances, and others going only a few meters—then mate, and drop to the ground where they lose their wings, and attempt to start a new ant colony. The mass of flying insects often attracts the attention of predators such as birds, and it is common to see flocks of feeding birds gorging on the readily available food.

This phenomenon occurs in many colonies simultaneously when the local weather conditions are appropriate, to reduce the effectiveness of predation and to ensure that the queens and males from different colonies stand a chance of meeting and interbreeding. It therefore has the appearance of being a 'timed' event or that the ants somehow communicate. However neither of these is likely to be the case - it is simply a common response to temperature, humidity and windspeed and time of year.

That buggers that one for some innuendo and smutty fun.

Love n hugs

DD

MattC59

thegreatdivide wrote:

Flying ant day

"Flying ant day" is an informal term for the day on which queen ants emerge from the nest to begin their nuptial flight. In most species, the male ants also fly alongside them, although they are smaller and less noticeable. The queens fly around—some very long distances, and others going only a few meters—then mate, and drop to the ground where they lose their wings, and attempt to start a new ant colony. The mass of flying insects often attracts the attention of predators such as birds, and it is common to see flocks of feeding birds gorging on the readily available food.

This phenomenon occurs in many colonies simultaneously when the local weather conditions are appropriate, to reduce the effectiveness of predation and to ensure that the queens and males from different colonies stand a chance of meeting and interbreeding. It therefore has the appearance of being a 'timed' event or that the ants somehow communicate. However neither of these is likely to be the case - it is simply a common response to temperature, humidity and windspeed and time of year.

Either way, they're f*cking up my lawn !!!

DIESELDOG

Matt, better that than f*cking you UP your lawn...

Love n hugs

DD

MattC59

DIESELDOG wrote:

Matt, better that than f*cking you UP your lawn...

Love n hugs

DD

Good point well made !!!
Ewwww............... the thought of aeveral thousand ants............

DIESELDOG

MattC59 wrote:

DIESELDOG wrote:

Matt, better that than f*cking you UP your lawn...

Love n hugs

DD

Good point well made !!!
Ewwww............... the thought of aeveral thousand pants............

FTFY and better than biscuits in bed. Those damn crumbs are worse than sand.

Love n hugs

DD

Headhuunter

As I walked along Leather Lane yesterday, I felt a stinging on the inside of my left arm. Looked down and an enormous flying ant was busy biting me! Little [email protected]!

king_jeffers

Ahh don't mind them as long as they stay in the garden and don't stray into the house. That also goes for any other insect and their arachnid friends.

Trespassers will be squished :twisted:

stealfwayne

As us cyclists are in need of more protiens, just pedal with your mouth open - hey presto, Flants snack attack