Thousands of these critters on my driveway tonight ... Flying Ants

NIMAN

Walking up the driveway tonight I noticed a few small things moving around my feet. When I actually stopped and looked more closely, I noticed there were hundreds if not thousands of them over a large area.

Not sure what type of flies they are, but they weren't doing any flying, just a lot of running around, not being annoyed by my presence at all.

So anyone able to supply any more info? Its been a strange day, must have been the heat, as I have another thread with another little thing to identify:eek:

http://s973.photobucket.com/user/sok40/media/Light%20Switch/fly_zpseefe3b0c.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

NSAman

Little Squares?

kaki

Flying ant day? Hard to judge the scale from the photo.

bluemartin

flying ants

gloucestershireecho.co.uk/Billions-flying-ants-swarm-Britain-warm-weather/story-21657322-detail/story.html

NIMAN

They are tiny, if you weren't looking down you wouldn't even notice them there.

I was going to ask "are these ants" in my post, but didn't think ants came with wings!

cerastes

NIMAN wrote: »

They are tiny, if you weren't looking down you wouldn't even notice them there.

I was going to ask "are these ants" in my post, but didn't think ants came with wings!

The hint is in the name,
flying ants

NIMAN

I get that now, but never knew there was such a thing, until now.

Every day's a school day, eh.

cerastes

Happens most years as far as I recal

Someone mentioned the rain, thinking about it now I think their appearance does precipitate precipitation or visa versa.

byrneg28

Does anyone know much about these millions of fly ants that are around all the time like this time of year?

What spieces are they? Someone said they were mating this time of year anybody know much??

Mickeroo

Cork City was absolutely covered in them last night, seemed bigger than ants to me.

Here's the link posted above again: http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk/Billions-flying-ants-swarm-Britain-warm-weather/story-21657322-detail/story.html

cerastes

NIMAN wrote: »

They are tiny, if you weren't looking down you wouldn't even notice them there.

I was going to ask "are these ants" in my post, but didn't think ants came with wings!

Mickeroo wrote: »

Cork City was absolutely covered in them last night, seemed bigger than ants to me.

Here's the link posted above again: http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk/Billions-flying-ants-swarm-Britain-warm-weather/story-21657322-detail/story.html

Im wondering if the insect being mentioned initially is the same one as the flying ant. The image initially suggest the same but its difficult to determine the size from that.
Id always thought they were a specific ant, but it seems they are just black ants that sprout wings for the mating period, reading it up here in the link provided.

Id always thought they were a bigger different ant than just ordinary black ants, maybe its because we only see the workers?? but it seems its the same.

NIMAN

Just for information purposes, I am in Inishowen in North Donegal.

bluemartin

NIMAN wrote: »

Just for information purposes, I am in Inishowen in North Donegal.

A beautiful part of the country :-)

bluemartin

NIMAN wrote: »

Just for information purposes, I am in Inishowen in North Donegal.

A beautiful part of the country :-)