Tuesday 11 July 2023

The Flying Ants are Organised!

8th July 2023 - it was 6:15pm, and the weather was warm and humid, with almost no wind. Suddenly, without warning, the air was full of Flying Ants!  Andy M noticed that not only were the Black Garden Ants swarming out of nests in the front garden, but the same was happening in the back garden, with ants flying from 6-8 nests, all at exactly the same time! 

Somehow the ants detect the perfect conditions for their flight, and winged male and female queen ants swarm from the nest to mate and set up new nests. This happens on the same day across large areas of the country, and how they coordinate this is not fully understood. It has been suggested that the ants may release a chemical signal when they start to fly, which is detected by other colonies closeby. Or it may just be that they all detect the same perfect conditions at the same time. Whatever the case, it ended as quickly as it started, and was all over within half an hour!





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The Aims of Abington Naturewatch

At their meeting on 9 April 2005 the members approved this revised version of the aims of Abington Naturewatch:

  • To monitor and record the wildlife (fauna & flora) within the borders of the Abingtons;
  • To encourage protection of our wildlife, maintain its quality and foster its diversity;
  • To promote awareness of the richness, potential and problems of the natural environment of the Abingtons;
  • To cooperate in improving access to the local natural environment for the benefit of all Abington villagers.

Pat Daunt, Founder

The organisation is informal and communication is by email if possible; members are notified of events from time to time. Contact details are maintained by a small "project team". There is currently no membership fee as costs are covered by voluntary contributions at events.

Members are encouraged to report notable sightings of flora and fauna within the Abingtons to the appropriate sector coordinator and an illustrated record is published annually.

A map of the area covered, with some features noted, is available here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213774935674882866424.00000111dca2be9f06ab8&z=13>

For more information or to join, please contact David Farrant on (01223) 892871.

Contributions to our records should be sent to sector contacts or either of the above. Photographs may also be submitted to Andy Merryweather (amerryweather61@gmail.com)