An expert warns that people undergoing garden renovations are more likely to be visited by flying ant colonies this summer.
Dr. Aidan O’ Hanlon, an insect expert in the Natural History Museum, says that ants are attracted to the sand often laid out on the ground before works commence.
“There’s been a craze of people going back since Celtic Tiger years to get their garden decked and paved. That’s perfect for ants as they love to rest in shallow soil. It’s easy for them to build their underground colonies out of and make tunnels ,” Aidan explained to listeners of The Ryan Tubridy Show.
Flying ants typically gather in swarms from the end of July as mating season approaches. The ants grow wings, making them more visible, which a female will later bite off to provide herself with extra protein.
Aidan went on to explain the mating process in ants to audiences, which Ryan dubbed “the handmaid’s tale in reverse”, as the sole purpose of male ants is to reproduce while their female counterparts will work together to create a successful colony.
The expert hit back at media coverage that depicts flying ants as a menace, assuring the public that they were unlikely to get bitten or stung by ants during their mating season.
“Ants usually found in suburban areas are not likely to bite you. They’re in such a mating frenzy that they have absolutely no interest in you whatsoever,” he added.
The curator also provided an update on the reopening of the Natural History Museum, also known as the Dead Zoo, which has been closed to the public since November 2020.
The museum is currently undergoing roof repairs, which required all collections located on the museum’s upper two floors to be removed for safekeeping.
Aidan says the current plan is for ground floors to reopen to the public this autumn, although there is no set date scheduled as of yet.
It took contractors and museum staff a staggering 10 months to pack away eye catching exhibits such as preserved polar bears.
“We’re getting our roof repaired because it leaks all the time, which is obviously not good for taxidermy. It’s a building that is nearly 170 years old and people are currently poking holes in its roof at the moment, trying to see how it works,” he revealed.
More information about the Natural History Museum can be found here.
