Flying ant day has hit the south - but has it reached Kent yet?

People living across Sussex and London have taken to social media to bemoan, and even celebrate, the clouds of winged insects that have descended upon their streets and gardens today.

But there has been little mention of the critters in Kent... so far.

Swarms of the insects are common around this time of year, when they take to the skies as part of their "nuptial flight" phase of reproduction as the weather becomes hotter and drier.

During this flight the young queen ants will mate with the strongest males before landing and starting their own colony in a new location.

Although the phenomenon is often dubbed "flying ant day", it often takes place over about three weeks.

As one social media user quipped, it seems to be one of the few large-scale annual events still going ahead despite the lockdown.

While not the most widely-celebrated date in the diary, it can certainly prove spectacular.

Last year, a huge swarm of the insects spotted over the south coast was so dense it could be seen from space.

The Met Office's radar picked up something over Kent, East and West Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset - and initially thought it could be rain. But a closer look revealed it was thousands of flying ants.

Large groups were then seen emerging Maidstone, Gillingham, Tunbridge Wells, Sheerness and Greenhithe.

For people living on the coast, flying ants present another challenge.

The creatures produce formic acid, which can prove irresistible to seagulls.

Birds gorge on ants, while the acid's stupefying effect can make them appear drunk - and present a hazard to motorists when they stagger into the road.

But when will flying ants take to the skies in Kent this summer?

The Natural History Museum says: "This annual swarming event usually occurs in July or August and coincides with a period of hot and humid weather. Winged ants appear at different times around the country and local weather conditions are critical for the coordination of swarming activity."

It adds that ants tend to fly earlier in urban areas than in rural ones - meaning Kent could be following hot on the heels of London, where many have reported seeing them today.

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