It’s that time of year when the flying ants take to the sky, new queens and males on their nuptial flight.  

 

The Royal Society of Biology (formerly the Society of Biology) have been running a flying ant survey in collaboration with the University of Gloucestershire between 2012 and 2014 and I have provided my records for this survey.  As with 2015, this year, the survey is more informal but society is keen to receive reports, find out more at https://www.rsb.org.uk/get-involved/biologyweek/flying-ant-survey

The main flying ant nuptial flight in and around my garden took place on 18th July.

The main nest on our rockery 

Smaller nest in our front garden

A small nest under the pavement just outside our garden. 

As always many were eaten by birds including gulls that catch them, on the wing and also pick them of the ground. Some become entangled in spider webs before they get far from the ground.

The nuptial flight this year is earlier than last year which took place 31st July and 2nd   August

You can see more on http://urbanwildlifejottings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/black-ant-nuptial-flight.html  and http://urbanwildlifejottings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/more-on-flying-ants-nuptial-flight.html