Millions of insects have gathered for their annual mating flight on what is known as Flying Ant Day - have they caused you a spot of bother while out enjoying the sun?
Flying Ant Day refers to when the six-legged creatures take to the sky for their ‘nuptial flight’, where virgin queens mate with males to start new colonies.
The nuptials can last weeks but are generally at their peak for one day, meaning you don’t have to worry about this becoming a regular occurrence this summer.
The swarms are so big because the tiny creatures, which have wings during the hot and humid summers, need protection in numbers to make sure they aren’t picked off by predators such as seagulls, who love to snack on them.
Flying together at once also gives them a better chance of finding a mate.
While having clouds of insects buzzing around you might be annoying, they won’t actually hurt you - so don’t worry too much.
Once the mating flight is done, the queens chew off their own wings before heading off on their legs to find somewhere for a new nest – so you might spot some discared wings on the ground.
? Have you seen flying ants today in Suffolk? Send us your pictures and videos by email.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here