Swarming ants 2013

[Jax]

Well mine are in full fling here.  Just went to open the back door and they are doing their annual "climb anything" for height to take flight.

 

Anyone else seeing this activity with their local ant colonies?

[Cakie]

Not seen any round here thankfully. I thought it was earlier in the year they did that?

[Jax]

Think it is a colony by colony thing?

[Cakie]

Think it is a colony by colony thing?

Devon ants would be way behind others as they are so chilled and laid back

[Crepuscular Ray]

I've got them here this evening, too, Jax. Given where they were crawling over the pavement earlier, it involved only one of the major colonies in the neighbourhood (the one that is in the sunniest position - don't know whether that has any effect). If it gets more humid tomorrow, I suspect that there will be lots from the others around and about.

[Jax]

I've got them here this evening, too, Jax. Given where they were crawling over the pavement earlier, it involved only one of the major colonies in the neighbourhood (the one that is in the sunniest position - don't know whether that has any effect). If it gets more humid tomorrow, I suspect that there will be lots from the others around and about.

It does seem that when one goes they all go.

 

By that I mean when a colony goes then the others follow, colony by colony.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Jax

[Crepuscular Ray]

Hopefully you're right Jax and they've all flown. There were several somewhat freaked small children outside earlier.

[Andy Bown]

Over the recent summers when hot weather was so rare it seemed the flying ants took advantage of whatever warmer day/evening they could find in July! This year of course is much different, perhaps they're spoilt for choice!

I always thought hey would choose a much more humid day than we've had so far, just from personal experience, and so far there hasn't been what I would term a humid day/evening.

[Cakie]

Just saw this on the BBC. Apparently they are making the seagulls drunk

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-23374943

[Crepuscular Ray]

There's been another nest flying these evening; several of them seem to fancy the idea of nesting in my kitchen. Yuk!

[Jax]

mine too are off again!

[nitro_deluxe]

Pesky things! First proper outbreak today - expecting a rumble or two next few days to make up

[Crepuscular Ray]

There's now a third spate of the little demons. Enough is enough!

[DAVID SNOW]

There's now a third spate of the little demons. Enough is enough!

Yes lots here this evening and the birds are loving it.

[nitro_deluxe]

Yup..antfest city.

[Jax]

Yes, here too, had to do the Bart Simpson arm waving robot to get from here to the next village swatting the buggers.