Monday 22 July 2013

Flying Ants at 12 O'Clock

Flying ants spotted on the Highfield Campus today at noon, on my way back from an unpleasant dental appointment.

Conditions at 12:15 pm:

29° C
Humidity 42%
Wind SSE 2mph
Barometer 1014.0 mb rising slowly

These were large black critters, about 0.75 cm long. As there's a degree ceremony today, I will shortly be heading out to look for ant/graduate interaction.  As soon as I can feel my face, that is...

2 comments:

Zouk Delors said...

Yes, spotted some in Stevenage a little while ago.

Conditions: kin hot

Why do they walk around like that? Does it take them a while to realize they've got wings?

Mike C. said...

Who knows? Though I think the stumbling around phase follows the flight phase, and they start biting their wings off pretty quickly. I have sometimes noticed the amputated wings glittering on the ground before seeing the ants.

Mike