Did anyone see the swarm of insects this afternoon? I saw them approaching across the road in a large clump and initially thought they were midges, but as they got closer realised they were much larger like wasps. Looked like a film scene, big mass swarming in. I rushed my pets inside and closed the door as they decended directly over my garden, I've never seen anything like it. I went to get my video to catch them as I just couldn't believe it. I had a mad thing fly in my house which turned out to be a large blue bottle. It was the weirdest thing, they eventually moved on, thousands of the things. Still not sure if they were wasps or blue bottles, the sound of buzzing was pretty loud too.

Originally posted by chezlyn
Did anyone see the swarm of insects this afternoon? I saw them approaching across the road in a large clump and initially thought they were midges, but as they got closer realised they were much larger like wasps. Looked like a film scene, big mass swarming in. I rushed my pets inside and closed the door as they decended directly over my garden, I've never seen anything like it. I went to get my video to catch them as I just couldn't believe it. I had a mad thing fly in my house which turned out to be a large blue bottle. It was the weirdest thing, they eventually moved on, thousands of the things. Still not sure if they were wasps or blue bottles, the sound of buzzing was pretty loud too. have you been drinking in that hot sun??:rolleyes:

Sounds like bees; I don't think wasps actually swarm, or not that often, and bluebottles are certainly not swarming insects.

I'm pleased that you got out of the way - that would have scared the bejabers out of me!

Joe

Didn't see this swarm. Been in Southwell, Nottinghamshire all afternoon - where we were plagued with small midges. We were covered in tiny black creatures, crawling all over our clothes and skin. Couldn't stop scratching our scalps and exposed arms and legs - they were even indoors when we sought sanctuary by visiting the The Workhouse. Just no escape from the pesky creatures. Grrr.

I never thought of bees, as so many of them. But now I think about it, it could have been bees. I sat in the garden when it was safe and my cat found a bee to chase that was creeping along in the grass unable to fly. No I hadn't started on any alcohol although I was just ready with a beer and some fruit to sit outside with when the swarm hit. Freaky!

I await being corrected on my facts here, but I believe that for one day only every year, ants grow wings.

I've seen these large swarms in the last two years

It will have been bees. My dad is a beekeeper so we are used to this sight. By the way if anyone else gets a swarm in their garden he will most likely remove them.

And no, wasps don't swarm.

Originally posted by BoroughGal
I await being corrected on my facts here, but I believe that for one day only every year, ants grow wings.

I've seen these large swarms in the last two years
It said this week in the paper that flying ants are about to move on. The queens are just waiting for a warm, humid day before making their move. Sound familiar :wink:
The only fact that you got wrong BoroughGal, was about them only having wings for the one day. Ask any cyclist that ventures up Fox House at this time of year :o
I rode through one of said swarms last year. Didn't notice anything until i took my cycling top off, then 3 of the ******* decided i was on the menu! :mad:

If you see a swarm approaching, close your windows.

Ants are much more likely to fly in the evening and into the night. They don't actually swarm. The only thing in this country that do are bees.

It has been a perfect swarming day for bees today.

Also Chezlyn's description sounds more like bees as ants don't buzz!

Originally posted by woolspinster
Ants are much more likely to fly in the evening and into the night. They don't actually swarm. The only thing in this country that do are bees.

Don't go cycling up Fox House woolspinster :suspect:

On this occasion they may well indeed have been Bee's. I'm not an expert.

I suspect a rat, as I came home from the pub the other day all the cars had a flyer under the wiper blade from someone offering to remove wasp nests and other pests. So maybe these have been deliberately let loose.

Nobody would deliberately let a swarm loose as they are worth money. In any case if they were just let got they wouldn't swarm, swarming is their way of reproducing and producing new colonies. They usually do it it fine weather in May, June and sometimes July.

Also, I checked with dad and he says he will remove swarms of bees free of charge if there is a decent colony.

Just gone out to where we know we have an ants nest and they were right. The flying ants are now coming out. Poured some bleach down and they are going barmy!! Ants and flying ants crawling about everywhere. By the way - Sheffield 5

Don't wanna say told you so, but I told you so..... ;)

Flying ants here too - was watering garden and just thought it was the soil moving with the water until I saw the wings and realised it was a mass of ants :gag:

Seems the gloop I bought to rid my kitchen of ants has worked and they have moved back into the garden :thumbsup: