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Flying Ant Day 2017 appears to be fast approaching - and Brummies will need to be careful.

Soon, huge flying ants will be appearing across the West Midlands.

The insects, which appear across the UK, have given birth to what has become popularly known as 'Flying Ant Day'.

Yes. Really.

Flying Ant Day sees scores of the little creatures landing on clothing of residents across the UK - and Birmingham is no different.

The flying ant period can actually last a few weeks, but experts say it typically builds up to a specific day.

On said day, residents can witness MILLIONS of flying ants all over the country as they fly around merrily (and annoy all of us).

What is Flying Ant Day?

Male and female ants will sprout wings and venture out of their nests, seeking ants from other colonies to mate with.

It's a giant ant party, in many respects, with millions enjoying their "nuptial flight".

Why does it happen, though?

Good question.

Experts say the nuptial flight is a crucial part of the insect's developments, allowing them to reproduce and spawn scores of other creatures.

During the flight, virgin queens mate with males and then land to start a new colony.

The large numbers of flying ants which appear in a short space of time increase the chance of reproduction.

So, it's pretty important.

What species are the ants?

If you're swatting away the little creatures from your white work shirt, you'll be interested to know the variety is known as the Lasius niger.

Tell me more about them.

Their nests have a single queen and typically around 5,000 workers.

This figure can stretch to three times that number, though.

The ants you see over the course of the year will be mostly workers collecting food for their colony - and they are all female.

They survive for about a month, while the flying ants you see once a year are males and young queens.

Queens can live for over 10 years and spend most of their lives in their nest.

New queens, however, will leave to mate and found a colony of their own.

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When will it occur?

That's tough to say - but it'll be soon.

It is thought Flying Ant Day occurs when a spell of wet weather is followed closely by hot humid weather.

Queen ants take their cue from the weather to seek males to mate with.

How do I get rid of them?

You can do anything from spraying the ants with effective agents, to catching them with sticky tape or tin cans.

Should I get rid of them?

Perhaps not.

They aerate soil, help to cycle nutrients, improve garden fertility and control pests.

Flying ants also provide a vital food resource for many species of birds, particularly swifts and gulls.

So, they may be annoying, but they do a lot of good.