British meteorologists were amazed that it did not rain over London, Kent and Sussex, two counties in the south-east of the country, as their radar showed a huge rain cloud which simply turned out to be a swarm of flying ants.
The UK’s Met Office meteorological service radar detected a 50-mile-wide cloud over London and south-east England. But to the great surprise of meteorologists it did not rain.
“The radar is actually picking up a swarm of #flyingants across the southeast,” they explained.
It's not raining in London, Kent or Sussex, but our radar says otherwise…📡
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 17, 2020
The radar is actually picking up a swarm of #flyingants across the southeast 🐜
During the summer ants can take to the skies in a mass emergence usually on warm, humid and windless days #flyingantday pic.twitter.com/aMF6RxR943
They said that in summer the ants can take flight in large numbers during hot, humid and calm days.
According to their estimates, the swarm in question could number in the millions of insects.
In the UK such events occur during a period that locals refer to as the Day of the Flying Ants.
The Royal Biological Society announced that they were harmless and that it was best not to approch them. Scientists added that these insects can improve soil fertility and play a big role in plant life. And finally, these insects are food for birds.
Straight into the gaping bills of this lot pic.twitter.com/1WljLz8zWL
— William A. Booth (@WilliamABooth) July 17, 2020
