With reports of the winged insects starting to emerge across Norfolk, Flying Ant Day is upon us.

Here is everything you need to know about Flying Ant Day and why it happens. 

What is Flying Ant Day?

Each summer millions of flying ants descend on the UK when the temperature and humidity conditions are just right to mate. 

According to the Natural History Museum: "Prior to swarming, ants are going about their everyday business and living in a colony in a nest.

READ MORE: Summer FINALLY arrives with temperatures to hit 30C in Norfolk

"When the winged males and queens emerge from the nest, they scatter to maximise the chance of mating between different colonies and reduce inbreeding."

Many ant colonies do so on the same day and stay in swarms for protection from predators and to increase the chance of mating.

Flying ants Flying ants (Image: Jamie Burston Art/PA Wire) The queens mate with a male from another colony before landing to start new colonies.

After mating, the queens lose their wings and the workers usually die.

The ants can occasionally bite but if you do get bitten or stung, there is no need to be alarmed.

According to the NHS, such occurrences are “generally harmless, although you’ll probably feel a nip”.

When is Flying Ant Day?

The idea that there is a single flying ant day each year is a myth. 

There are several weeks, between the end of July and the beginning of August, when the ants reach peak numbers and the mating can take place at different times across the country depending on weather conditions. 

The ants want a hot day, usually above 25C, but preferably 30C.

It also can't be too windy and often it has rained recently or will rain soon. 

The swarms tend to peak on one day in particular but mating can last for a few weeks.