Each Year Flying Ants Emerge Across the U.K. And Yes, They're Annoying.

During the summer in Britain, millions of winged ants take to the air to find a mate. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as ‘flying ant day,’ occurs over six weeks between mid-July and early September. Although the name implies a single day, there are multiple days where the insects are highly active. The purpose of this mating frenzy is for the ants to find partners and establish new colonies. The swarms of flying ants have gained attention and occasionally become a nuisance to people outdoors. For instance, they disrupted Wimbledon in 2017 by flying onto the court, bags, and players.