By Matt BardoReporter, BBC
Nature
The study involved examining
6,000 sightings in the UK
The notion of an annual flying
ant day, when swarms of ants emerge and take to the air in mass mating flights,
is a "myth", scientists say.
UK summer data gathered by the
Society of Biology shows two peaks in flying ant appearances over one
fortnight.
They mapped 6,000 flying ant
sightings, made by members of the public this year, to learn about ant
behaviour.
The team now hopes to repeat
the study in future years so that the scientists can draw firmer conclusions.
The survey was organised by
the Society of Biology with the results announced as part of Biology Week,
which runs until Friday.
The main findings to be drawn
from the study concern the black garden ant (Lasius niger), the most common ant
species in the UK.
Some of the results have
surprised the experts.
"Even over a small area
emergences happened on different days, suggesting that local synchronisation is
not as precise as is widely believed," said Professor Adam Hart, an
ecologist at University of Gloucestershire, who presented the results of the
survey at a Biology Week event.
Continued: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19963128
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