Post by Wood~Ant on Mar 17, 2012 11:09:33 GMT
This may seem an odd time to be thinking about the mating flights of ants, yet deep inside the nests of Formica rufa (wood ants) their new virgin queens have already entered into the early stages of larval development, as the older queens laid the eggs that will become alates (winged male and female ants) back in February despite it still being winter and cold.
During April the new queen larvae will grow and by early May have spun cocoons, eclosing by the middle of that month so that by late May the nest mounds will be full of winged callow ants.
Some nests only produce all males, while other nests will be all females; and a few produce both sexes, but by early June they are mature enough to start venturing above the surface to warm themselves in the early summer sun; and by mid June many nests will begin their mating flights which normally last over a period of about a week.
By late June all nests will have newly mated queens, or some will go off to found new nests and colonies, although many fall to predators of course.
So if you live in an area where wood ants nest nearby, from about the 7th of June to around the 28th, keep your eyes open and watch for them happening.
Sadly I have never been able to time this event and have missed seeing an actual flight, though it must be a spectacular sight
During April the new queen larvae will grow and by early May have spun cocoons, eclosing by the middle of that month so that by late May the nest mounds will be full of winged callow ants.
Some nests only produce all males, while other nests will be all females; and a few produce both sexes, but by early June they are mature enough to start venturing above the surface to warm themselves in the early summer sun; and by mid June many nests will begin their mating flights which normally last over a period of about a week.
By late June all nests will have newly mated queens, or some will go off to found new nests and colonies, although many fall to predators of course.
So if you live in an area where wood ants nest nearby, from about the 7th of June to around the 28th, keep your eyes open and watch for them happening.
Sadly I have never been able to time this event and have missed seeing an actual flight, though it must be a spectacular sight
I never new they flew so early 
