Mile-long swarm of insects spotted in UK on Flying Ant Day

A mile-long swam of flying ants has been detected by the Met Office (Image: Getty Images) As each part of the country experiences “flying ant day” at a different times throughout the summer months, there is no specific date to guarantee when or where ants will swarm. Earlier this month, Met Office forecaster, Simon Partridge said: “Every year around this time we do pick them up on the rain radar. At the moment it’s harder to tell because we’ve got so many showers and the ants look like showers.” Speaking to Sky News, he added: “It’s generally the southern parts of the UK where we tend to notice it most. When we do get the rain, they don’t fly as much.” The annual event happens when a new Queen ant is ready to begin her own colony and leaves the nest along with thousands of males.  Flying ants can be seen on as many as 96% of days between June and September according to experts (Image: Getty Images) A science survey by Professor Adam Hart of the University of Gloucestershire suggested that “flying ant day” occurs when the weather is warm and the wind is low. The Royal Society of Biology has an information page based on Hart’s research. It states: “Ants only flew when the temperature was above 13C and when the wind speed was less than 6.3 metres per second but overall ants like it calm and warm.” Meanwhile, across the UK, people have taken to Twitter to share their disdain for the tiny insects. Social media user, @matthewbest said: “Flying ant day is one of the worst days of the year.” Social media users took to Twitter to share their dislike for the insects (Image: Twitter @matthewbest ) Some people sarcastically wished a “happy flying ant day everyone in the UK!” whereas others suggested it was “time to eat some bugs” referring to the unfortunate occasion an ant flies into your mouth during a walk outside. Users from Portsmouth, Reading, Oxfordshire, Southampton, and London all commented on witnessing a swarm of ants mid-July. Another user, @kooksrhi said: “I didn’t realise it was flying ant day today they’re literally everywhere this is horrifying.” Others helpfully suggested to “lock the doors and shut all the windows” to avoid the insects flying into homes. Flying ants can be seen on as many as 96% of days between June and September, according to the Royal Society of Biology.