How do flying ants know it's their one day a year to mate?

26 July 2012 Last updated at 06:11 ET




It's time for flying ant day in large parts of the UK, when they embark on their annual mating ritual. So how do the ants know it's their one day a year to mate?
The sun has finally come out, summer has arrived and with it comes the annual swarm of flying ants.
This seasonal appearance occurs when the ants embark on their "nuptial" flight. This mating ritual happens on roughly the same day across the country, with some regions following a day or two afterwards.
For the ants it is the first step in founding

Chizony