I saw some familiar round shapes on one of my windows and thought, ‘Oh, there must be a little nest or something.’ Came downstairs, looked at my patio windows and… loads of ladybirds!
I don’t know why they all came out at one go, I’ve never seen that happen before. Is this another climate change thing?
Here’s some pics of the beautiful critters anyway, enjoy!
(No flying ant day this year, I must have missed it. But this is pretty close!)
Sooo… I don’t know what’s happening this year but the (flying) ants are going crazy. The above pic is on Green Lane, Rose spotted the ants as we were on our way to another supreme Thai Boran feast. And that photo is from July 3rd!
Then there’s the above pic. As I came back to my car (parked in Allestree), I noticed flying ants on it. That was just last week, July 27th.
Then the last pic, above, is from today, August 1st. As Tracey, Amy, Nat and I were walking back from town, we noticed flying ants. I say “noticed” – they were everywhere on Sadler Gate. Kept landing on our arms and hair, itchy hell.
So, what’s going on? I missed last year’s FAD but normally the little critters are pretty synchronised. This year… some have been coming out nearly a month in advance of others. I thought the whole point of mass beastie movements like this was to cut the impact of predation? Indeed, says this ant expert:
“They monitor the day length, humidity and temperature to pick just one day a year to mate.”
(Source: BBC News)
Well, maybe in Scotland, pal, but down here, they’re all over the shop!
What is going on with you, flying ants? I am concerned. I hope it’s not some kind of eco-doom ant confusion.
Because I do love flying ants. Yes, they can be a bit of nuisance but their life cycle is a little miracle: the winged females taking to the air, trying to establish new colonies. Shedding their wings, most of them dying. I’m glad they have a day all of their own. I’m a little worried if that’s becoming a month due to ant confusion.
SO: Don’t tread on an ant, she’s done nothing to you. There might come a day when she’s treading on you…
An ant, earlier today.
HAPPY FLYING ANT DAY, EVERYBODY!
THEY FLY, THEY FUCK, THEIR WINGS DROP OFF, THEY DIEEEE!
Well, at least in Derby it was. Walking around town, the little bastards kept flying in my face, down the back of my shirt into my mouth.
It’s a few days later than last year’s Flying Ant Day. Maybe they were finishing off the Snow Storm mission on GTAIV. That is particularly hard if your over-sized mandibles obscure the jump to the speedboat.
Ahhh… ANTS!
Laydeez and genitals, may I present the world’s first LOLANT (as far as I’m aware)
Today is…
Flying Ant Day is an informal term for a 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 for a while – sometimes being dispersed very long distances, and sometimes going only a few metres – then mate, and drop to the ground where they lose their wings, and attempt to start a colony.
(Source: Wikipedia)
So keep your windows shut and make sure you don’t walk round with your mouth hanging open. Or you may end up as an ant colony. 😀
Click the pic above for a few choice hymenoptera. Or here to see what was going on at last year’s Flying Ant Day.
Hmmm… they’re only three days later than last year. They must have marked it on their tiny ant calendars.
They’re getting haplodiploid on your asses!