Flying Ant day 2025 – everything you wished you didn’t have to know

Every summer, millions of flying ants take to the skies to mate in the air and establish new colonies.

It has been dubbed Flying Ant Day and it wreaks havoc on Brits forced to swat away amorous swarms gathering for their annual congress.

The exact time will depend on where you live, with urban areas expected to experience the wave of flying ants sooner, partly because of the ‘heat island’ effect.

However, while they be a seasonal nuisance, flying ants actually help to sustain the ecosystem and recycle nutrients, as well as providing a food source for birds.

But what exactly causes this strange phenomenon?

What are flying ants?

Flying ants are mating males and females that take flight annually to breed and set up new colonies.

Sometimes confused with termites, they are known as alates and are the only ants to have wings.

After successfully mating, a male ant dies, while the female gets to work building a nest and starting the new colony. She spends the rest of her life wingless.

When is flying ant day 2025?

Although the annual phenomenon is often referred to as ‘flying ant day’, the event typically occurs over several weeks.

The humid temperatures and wind are thought to be the optimum conditions for the nuptial flight, however little is known about how ants choose the time to take to the sky and communicate to create new colonies.

This year we can expect flying ants to peak around the end of next month, specifically between July 22 and 25, however the exact date will vary across the country.

But for most the swarm of winged ants will be earlier than usual, partly due to the hotter-than-average spring.

Experts believe this summer’s particularly humid climate could be the perfect conditions for huge swarms.

Where do flying ants come from?

Flying ants come from existing insect colonies.

They are not a separate species, but rather a winged variant that leaves the nests to mate and set up new colonies.

While males typically die after mating, the females or queens, shed their wings and build the new nests.

Are flying ants queens?

Most flying ants you see are indeed queens, as well as young males, who take flight to mate with each other.

Queen ants are the reproducing members of the colony and the only ones to produce eggs.

Some queens do not require a male partner to reproduce and can instead produce offspring through asexual parthenogenesis, in which eggs do not need fertilisation, or cloning.

Not all colonies have a queen, while some will have multiple reproducing females.

Do flying ants bite?

Typically notably larger than a normal ant, the winged variants are an all-too familiar irritant during canal walks, barbecues and pub gardens alike.

However, although the UK is home to more than 60 species of flying ant, none of them are harmful or are able to administer a lethal bite or sting.

Paul Blackhurst, from pest control firm Rentokil, explained as well as being no threat to humans, flying ants provide huge benefits to the wider ecosystem.

He said: ‘Though it may seem like a summertime nuisance, this swarming strategy is believed to help more ants survive by overwhelming their predators including swifts and gulls.

‘While flying ants might disrupt your picnic, barbecue, or pub garden pint, they play a vital role in the ecosystem by aerating soil, recycling nutrients, and serving as a key food source for birds.’

How to get rid of flying ants

According to Rentokil, the best way to prevent the insects from invading your home is by closing doors and windows, and sealing up any cracks and crevices they could use to sneak in,.

Outside, keeping bins tightly sealed and storing food in airtight containers can help prevent swarms from gathering near you.

A strong detergent can also be used to remove scents left behind by ants to direct their colony mates to a source of food.

Fairly obviously, don’t leave spilt food or drinks outside for any length of time.

And remember, while a pain in the neck, flying ants are actually doing us a favour by sustaining nature.

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