1.20pm - Flying ants swarm in Gloucestershire

FLYING ants have descended on Gloucestershire.

Swarms of the winged ants have been reported in Cheltenham today.

The ants emerge for short periods of time every year during late summer.

The sexually mature males and large females emerge from the nest to mate which is done “on the wing.”

After mating the male mates usually die quickly and only a small proportion of the mated females will survive to found new colonies.

Normally only one female will found each colony, but sometimes new colonies are formed in close proximity.

If they do join up then one of the females will assume dominance and kill the others.

Have you been hit by the swarming ants? Use the story comment facility below to let us know.