Without a doubt, you will have noticed huge swarms of flying ants invading the county in recent days. Readers in Bray, Greystones, Arklow and Wicklow Town have found themselves inundated with the winged insects recently. Many are bewildered by their sudden appearance but it is actually an annual occurrence. At this time of year, conditions are perfect for the ants mating season.
When the weather gets warm and humid and there is no rain, ants all around the country emerge from their colonies usually around 5pm for their ‘nuptial flight’. Although, most people around the Garden County may think they witnessed the height of this over the past weekend, experts have predicted that the worst is yet to come.
There is a day each year known as Flying Ant Day which has been predicted to occur around mid-September. Wicklow Voice’s resident nature expert, Justin Ivory, says, “Usually all the colonies in an area, triggered by some unseen cue – temperature, humidity, day length – will empty out at the same time. “This synchronisation ensures better genetic mixing across the colonies.”
An ant mates just once in its lifetime as the female gathers enough sperm to last the rest of its life – which can be 21-24 years. While they can be pests, ants are natural foragers and are essential to our ecosystem so if possible, it is important that they are free to reproduce. However, if you are overrun and at your wits end, you can spray them with a homemade remedy of diluted washing-up liquid.
To keep them out of your house, be sure to keep food covered and keep anything sweet stored away. If you are in one of the affected areas, keep in mind that flying ants have a sting in their tail as they are known to spray formic acid which produces a stinging effect in human skin. Take care not to disturb them they will not sting, so stand back and enjoy the wonders of nature.
