Ant flight seasons

[Josh]

Hello,

I'm sorry if this is covered in another topic elsewhere, but I cannot seem to locate such a place and if I've missed it, someone please feel free to point it out to me. However I was wondering if anyone could give me approximate or accurate flight seasons for ant species in the UK. I think I've seen Lasius niger in action, where you see them everywhere all over the ground, but I don't believe I've ever witnessed any other species flight time and I wondered if I was just missing it or perhaps it doesn't happen in my specific location in the north east of Britain

Anyway, if anyone could provide such information, I'd be most grateful!

Thank you!

[Wood~Ant]

Good question Josh, as although I may have covered individual ant species mating flights in and around the UK mainland, I know that I haven't done a thread about all British ants nuptial mating flight times.

Individual species have their own preference for when they fly, so it does depend a great deal on the genera/species. Most ants will fly in high Summer, from mid July up until late August. There exceptions to this of course, as some wood ants such as Formica rufa fly about mid to late June, as does Tetramorium caespitum.
Other Formica species fly later, and the farther north a species lives, the later it flies in Summer or into early Autumn.

All Myrmica species seem to fly during August from my own experience of them, while most Lasius fly during July/August with the exception of L. alienus which will fly as late as October.
The location that ants nest in has some influence on when a species will fly, as such things as hot thermals or high winds can either allow a flight, or prevent it from happening completely. Heavy rain also stops ants flying.

The vast majority of UK members will observe ant mating flights occurring in high Summer, but they happen any time from around June to October, depending on the species/genera.
In very bad years some nests don't manage to have a nuptial flight at all, in which case they either over-winter their sexually mature males and females, or kill them and produce new ones the following Spring.

Of course it is impossible to pinpoint a set day or time of day when you'll catch sight of ants flying, but although ants will fly from mid-morning up until late afternoon, most prefer a warm day with very little or no wind. Winds do play a role in aiding winged ants to disperse over a wider area though, as this is how many invasive species have been found to spread around the world by mated queens being blown onto ships.
In the case of British ants, it would be great if our members posted the times they witness the flights of certain ant species, as perhaps then we could make a comprehensive list of the UK mating flights

Hope this helps nest mate?

[Caydenn]

2009-03-26
it is Autumn here in South Africa.
Weather:Sunny warm.
Condition:Major mating flights.

[Josh]

Thank you for the information Wood, it has helped a great deal. I will be sure to keep an eye out, especially on the months you've stated for ants flying. I also agree that providing such information would be most useful, as it would help members know exactly what date that specific ants seem to fly in, and also what the weather conditions were.

[Wood~Ant]

Cheers Josh, though I must also point out that although the months tend to be the same for a specific species, the day(s) vary from year to year. The reason for this of course in the ants favouring exact weather conditions which are only found on the right kind of days, such as those that are usually very warm with high humidity, and with low winds or none at all, as are often found after heavy thunder storms in high summer.

[Wood~Ant]

With July just around the corner many ant lovers might be expecting mating flights very soon. Sadly the bad wet and windy June weather will delay many British ant species from flying just yet.
In our local Lasius flavus and L. niger nests the alates are still mostly in the cocoon stage of pupating, and what few winged callows there are are not in sufficient numbers to form any kind of major nuptial flights for the time being.

I would say look out for flights from late July (say after the 23rd) into early and mid August for most of our native species.
Reports suggest that even Formica rufa, which usually flies around mid to late June is late this year, with many nests only doing so within the last 3 days; and some still to fly.
Myrmica too are likely to be a bit later this year with this awful weather, but hopefully mid July onward should improve enough for UK ants to begin their mating flights.

[msi]

Waiting for the flights, so nerve racking as I don't want to miss it haha. my aim is to catch group of L.Falvus.

[Zarbi]

The recent bad weather (cool and heavy rain) has kept a lot of alates inside the nests, as by this time last year many ants had at least 1 or even 2 mating flights in July. No sign of any so far this year, as rain stopped play as they say on the cricket field.

[Remson]

There doesn't seem to be an end to this rainy weather!! I do hope it stops so we get to enjoy the flights this year