Thousands of flying ants have swarmed the British mainland as the insects’ mating season begins.
The swarms were big enough to show up on weather charts.
‘Flying ant day’ marks the beginning of the ‘nuptial flight’ for queen ants. The queens produce pheromones to excite the male ants.
The queens then fly away from the approaching males, but this is only a ruse to gauge a male’s mating value. Only those males that are fast enough to catch up with the queen will get to have their way with her.