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🇧🇪 Belgium /Environment & Climate

The nuptial flight of the ant: why we see so many flying ants right now

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Flying ants, often seen in large swarms during warm summer periods, are part of a mating ritual known as the "nuptial flight."
  • These flying ants are not a separate species but are typically common black garden ants (Lasius niger) that temporarily develop wings for reproduction.
  • The event involves future queens and males swarming to mate, after which the males die and the fertilized queens establish new colonies.

The emergence of flying ants in large numbers during warm summer months is a natural phenomenon signaling the annual "nuptial flight," a crucial mating ritual for ant colonies. Biologist Anneline Mattens from KU Leuven explains that these are not a distinct species but rather the common black garden ants (Lasius niger) that temporarily grow wings for reproductive purposes.

Mattens clarifies that this temporary phase is not a cause for alarm and should not be considered a significant problem. "We collect flying ants for our research, so it's very nice to see them appear," she noted, emphasizing their temporary nature. The ants typically nest between paving stones and become prominent during warmer periods.

Within an ant colony, a queen can live for 15 to 20 years, her primary role being egg-laying. From these eggs, worker ants develop, all female, responsible for the colony's daily tasks and living for one to two years. The queen also lays eggs that produce males, whose sole purpose is to participate in the nuptial flight.

During this mating period, the queen lays both fertilized and unfertilized eggs. Fertilized eggs develop into either workers or future queens, while unfertilized eggs yield males. The current period is when queens lay unfertilized eggs specifically to create males for the nuptial flight, ensuring the continuation of new colonies.

We collect flying ants for our research, so it's very nice to see them appear.

— Anneline MattensThe biologist from KU Leuven commented on the appearance of flying ants during the summer months.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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