The warm weather and balmy evenings have caused flying ants to swarm across the country.
The creatures have been spotted in towns and cities including London, Swadlincote, Cambridge, Bedford, Chessington, Poole, Sheffield, Bristol and Cardiff.
Flying ants are the sexually mature queens and males of the common black ant who have left their respective nests to swarm and find mates.
The winged insects gather in the summer because the warm air and long nights make perfect conditions in which to fly and dig new nests.
It was once believed that ants swarmed simultaneously over a 24-hour period each year. However, a recent study by the Royal Society of Biology showed that flying ant days can stretch over a month. The society has urged people who spot flying ants to contact them, so they can add to their data.
Twitter was awash with people tweeting at the Royal Society, venting their confusing at the sheer number of flying ants in their area, or just taking the opportunity to post jokes.
They give me the heebyjeebies - but FOR THE SAKE OF SCIENCE - report your flying ants here #flyingantday https://t.co/gxKayhV7bG
— Rebecca Morelle (@rebeccamorelle) July 31, 2015
So it's #flyingantday - why did it have to coincide with #massiveyawnday....???
— Ben Hanlin (@benhanlin) July 31, 2015
#FlyingAntDay SE1 and N13 confirmed. Watch out
— Jody Smith (@ToastMaster) July 31, 2015
DAMN YOU TINY BEASTS #flyingantday
— Lexxi (@Lexxi_Elizabeth) July 31, 2015
Read more:
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There are so many flying ants outside our studio today #flyingantday pic.twitter.com/BgUW6YREJA
— Sean Lemon (@badman_sean) July 31, 2015
.@RoyalSocBio we've seen #flyingants in Cambridge and Ely today. #flyingantsurvey pic.twitter.com/7oYFQr9N7t
— ST (@aegilopoides) July 31, 2015
@RoyalSocBio Whole of #Chippenham was plagued by flying ants today! Mad dash required from the car!! #FLYINGANTDAY pic.twitter.com/MRymOJQ1k4
— Tim Fosker (@timfosker) July 31, 2015
Maurice just saw #flyingants in Barton Seagrave! #flyingantday #flyingantsurvey http://t.co/7uFQKN5csb pic.twitter.com/EiDx1snpXc
— RSB (@RoyalSocBio) July 31, 2015
.@agpublic just saw #flyingants in London N16 - take part in #flyingantsurvey! http://t.co/7uFQKN5csb #flyingantday pic.twitter.com/UIg660dmZ0
— RSB (@RoyalSocBio) July 31, 2015
