Anyone else been attacked my millions of flies in the Fargate area? Any ideas what they are? Some sort of flying ant swarm I think..

Are you sure its not market researchers swarming all over you asking daft questions and generally getting on everyone's t*ts??

It must be benefit collection day, all the cities filth has congregated on Fargate for their weekly outing

That'll be 'Black Ant Giant Swarm Day' (self named) then. I've noticed that these swarms happen in Summer on muggy days. No i don't get out often.

More info can be found here, OK its American but i think the same principle applies:

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Pests/flyant.htm

and theres a forum with a topic about it here:

http://www.dogbomb.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=26399

Although i can't actually look at it cos the IT monkeys at work won't allow it because:

Reason: Found in Denied List (Interactive/Chat). Entry causing block is dogbomb.co.uk/board.

Oh my god yes,,,,
I've just come got back to work from my lunch after being swarmed by them urrggg!!!
Stuck to my clothes and in my hair i had to make a bee line for the nearest shop to escape.
They have really horrible long wings.

Me too. Flying ants everywhere. Biting little buggers...

Just after toby mentioned them on the radio, one flew through my window, and is now just sitting there looking confused. Must have lost his mates.

there is ****loads of them on Ecclesall Road too.

I say squash it quickly little blighters!!!!
Yak Yak Yak
I think i swallowed one earlier ....

Full report on Newshour on BBC Radio Sheffield later. We've even got an expert on.

don't you usually get these things near the seaside, there are always swarms all around Blackpool, something to do with the sea air but why sheffield.

Originally posted by kitkat
don't you usually get these things near the seaside, there are always swarms all around Blackpool, something to do with the sea air but why sheffield.

Yes there are often swarms in Blackpool. Swarms of Chavs, Hen and Stag Parties, Crackheads, Scots, and other undesirables from the sink estates of Lancashire.

I'll wet myself if Sheffield steals Blackpools thunder and gets all these casinos, its a scummy little town and the more people don't know about it (especially visitors from abroad) the better.

Originally posted by kitkat
don't you usually get these things near the seaside, there are always swarms all around Blackpool, something to do with the sea air but why sheffield.

They are just ants with wings, thus you get them where ever there are ants. They are off to colonise the world. I'm about 180 miles from Sheffield at the moment and we had them yesterday, yuk.

Maybe they are like stick insects but shorter.

They could be embarrassed to hang around with the other stick insects and instead have formed themselves into a 'gang' of flying ants who's only aim in life is to look at fridge freezers, eat empty deodorant cans and speak stick insect slang.

I met one once in a bar in Rotherham - he was a quite charming fella but had this wierd habit of finishing his sentences with 'and I'll tell you something that rhymes with soup'.

I left after about half an hour because he kept making advances towards my other half who obviously took a shine to him and was open to suggestions.

Not being of the stick insect swinger variety myself I made my excuses and left.

Only to be hit by a bendybus being driven by the said insects brother.

Bizarre.

And very unlucky..

Yes it would appear to be flying any day. It happened every year back home (On the coast for those that don't know). Never seen it in Sheffield though. I believe they're queen ants, and I also think they bite. They did put me off my lunch as they kept landing on it.

I have never heard such a fuss over this. It happens every year, queen ants and male ants start flying and mating, its nothing new or special.

Heard the news on Radio Sheffield that people were phoning up the council and complaining!! Yes I know its so terrible that we are not the only living creatures in the world and these insects dare to use the same air as us........

As Mr Tapper would no doubt say....."Sheesh!"

thought id just let ya no, im from chesterfield and we had loads of flies as well, so it aint jus sheff!!
there are like anty things also!! think its that time of year!!

had an invasion of flying ants last night at aston ,they were every where it looked like the floor was moving if you went outside they was crawling up your legs ,it put me off having a drink outside but the kids loved it thought it was brill

It happens every year, on a warm humid day normally after recent rain. (Probably because the ground is softer for the ants to dig.)

The queen and male ants swarm. They fly off and mate in the air. The males die shortly afterwards, but the queens that survive (the birds have a feeding frenzy) land, break off their wings and dig a new nest.

The queens wing muscles are used as nutrients to sustain her while she builds up the colony.

As has been said before, it happens every year, so no-one should really make a fuss!

Ewww I saw these too... huge, long silver wings...

Could have been worse though... could have been spiders :o