Public urged to prepare for an increase in flying ant activity

Experts are advising homeowners and businesses to prepare for an increase in flying ant activity over the next few weeks, as conditions become favourable.

Rentokil says that swarming activity occurs throughout July and August. This period is often referred to as Flying Ant Day, during which winged ants leave their nests in large numbers to mate.

As Ireland has experienced mixed weather conditions over the past few weeks, with spells of warm weather and heavy rainfall, this makes the conditions increasingly favourable for flying ant activity.

Rentokil say that the public may notice large numbers of flying ants around homes, parks, gardens and outdoor dining areas.

Regional Technical Manager for Rentokil Ireland said: “Flying Ant Day is one of the most noticeable seasonal insect events we see each year. While the name suggests that it takes place on a single day, it is a series of swarming events that can occur over several weeks during the summer months.

"Warm and humid conditions provide ideal circumstances for flying ants to emerge and mate on the wing. While they are generally harmless and form an important part of the ecosystem, large swarms can be disruptive, particularly around homes, businesses, outdoor events and hospitality settings.

"Although flying ants are a temporary nuisance, established ant colonies can become a more persistent problem if they gain access to buildings. Once worker ants locate a food source, they leave pheromone trails which attract other ants, allowing infestations to develop quickly."