Love is in the air! Flying ants swarm in Swindon for annual mating ritual

Flying ants are swarming in Swindon as a result of the hot and humid conditions. The seasonal appearance of clouds of the insects - often referred to as 'flying ant day' occurs when the ants embark on their "nuptial" flight. This mating ritual happens when the weather conditions are the right combination of heat and humidity. The warm air makes it easier for the flying ants to maintain flight and high humidity makes the ground softer for mated queens to dig nests. Flights are timed between nests because the flying ants need to maximise their chances of meeting ants from other colonies to mate with. Queen ants mate with males during flight, after which the female will lose her wings and attempt to start her own colony by burrowing into the soil. Males die shortly after mating but queens can live for up to 15 years.