Wikimedia Commons/Bruce Marlin
"Anyone else have flying ants emerging today? Making me feel very itchy!" tweeted one Londoner today. "FLYING ANTS EVERYWHERE!! THEY'LL DEVOUR US ALL!!!" said another.
Every year, the queen ants of colonies all over the region fly the nest to look for a male to mate with, and begin a new colony. This results in swarms of flying ants invading the city.
It has become known as "Flying Ant Day."
But why do all the ants decide to do this on the same day?
Technically, flying ant day isn't just one day, it can be several days throughout the summer. According to The Independent, there were four flying ant days last year, and it's mostly related to the warm summer temperatures.
Like humans, balmy temperatures put ants in the mood. There needs to be no chance of rain, no predators in the area, and of course, plenty of fertile ants. However, global warming has seen ant days arrive earlier and earlier in the year.
To make matters worse, ants don't keep their mating process to a confined space. The males and females all leave the nest at once. The female then separates from the males in order to avoid cross-breeding, and releases her pheromones into the air in order to attract new male suitors. Once a male has paid attention to her, she plays hard to get by flying away, leaving the male ant to chase her down - and us humans to avoid swarms of frisky, flirting ants.
Not surprisingly, people in the south of England aren't taking too kindly to the infestations - one person has even taken to burning the ants alive.
Flying ants coming in my window. Ill burn the whole house down if i have too ???? pic.twitter.com/u003dqyH7p
- VitaminD (@DanMcCarthy_88) July 31, 2015.@agpublic just saw #flyingants in London N16 - take part in #flyingantsurvey! http://t.co/7uFQKN5csb #flyingantday pic.twitter.com/UIg660dmZ0
- RSB (@RoyalSocBio) July 31, 2015Ok it's definitely Flants Day* in London today. *Flying ants
- Robert Popper (@robertpopper) July 31, 2015