Bumper swarms of flying ants could plague the UK this summer as conditions have been ‘ripe’ for breeding millions of insects.

Each year there is a day when millions of flying ants emerge from their nests all at the same time – in a spectacle which has come to be known as ‘flying ant day’.

But thanks to a damp start to spring which saw the wettest March on record, followed by exceptionally hot weather that led to the hottest ever June, technical academy head at Rentokil Pest Control Paul Blackhurst believes conditions will lead to bumper numbers this year.

He said: “Flying ant day, also known as the nuptial flight, is a natural phenomenon in which high numbers of ants with wings, called alates, take to the air simultaneously in search of mates from other colonies.

“The term "flying ant day" often leads to the misconception that this annual occurrence takes place all on one day. In truth, on almost all warm summer days you can find a few flying ants, but when the weather is just right we might see tens of millions take to the skies across Britain in giant swarms over a few weeks. While it can be a temporary nuisance, this mass flight helps the ants to overwhelm predators such as swifts and gulls, thereby increasing their chances of survival.

“Following a wet start to the spring this year, followed by the very warm weather we’ve been experiencing, the conditions are ripe for bumper swarms.”

Why do the ants swarm?

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

In 2022 flying ant day took place in most parts of the country on July 12. But if weather conditions are dramatically different for individual regions, households will notice a slight change as to when insects take to the skies in the greatest numbers.

The likely time and date of the swarm, while tricky to predict with pinpoint accuracy, ordinarily takes place after a period of hot and humid weather.

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."

You could see them from space

Although most of us may not relish the thought of thousands of the tiny creatures buzzing above our heads, it can be quite a sight.

In 2019, 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 incoming rain. But a closer look revealed it was thousands of flying ants.

While in 2021 there were concerns football fans taking their seats at Wembley for the postponed Euro’s 2020 final would be plagued by the creatures after radars detected millions of the bugs hovering over London.

For people living around the coast, flying ants can also present another challenge because the creatures produce formic acid, which is irresistible to seagulls.

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

Should you get rid of them?

Other than being annoying, most flying ants will do very little harm. In fact they can be extremely beneficial to outdoor spaces, helping to aerate soil and control other pests while also providing potential food for many species of birds.

And their arrival is short lived, so after a few days you should notice that any significant populations you have seen will begin disappearing, as their mating period is over.

But if you do find some near your home you may wish to discourage any potential new visitors from coming inside.

Keeping doors and windows closed when swarms are in their greatest numbers will help prevent them coming indoors. And if it’s really warm outside, using a fly screen is also advised to allow the air to circulate but keep the ants out, suggests Rentokil.

Disrupting any nests or growing ant mounds you find in your garden can also help reduce the chances of them coming indoors in very large numbers.