SWARMS of flying ants are plaguing York.

Reports of large numbers of the winged insects - otherwise known as alates - came in from around the city on Monday, including Holgate.

One resident, Abbie Woodward, said: "Is anyone else having horrible flying ant day, or is it just Holgate?

"I had to walk through hundreds on my way home. Hideous, swarms of them."

Swarms of the insects are often seen on what is sometimes known as Flying Ant Day - an event at the end of summer when fertile male and female ants leave their nests to reproduce and start new colonies. However, this occurrence can last for several weeks, with temperatures affecting colonies at different times.

Pest control experts Rentokil said the insect swarms happen "where flying ants from multiple colonies conjoin to breed mid-air", and said the flying ants "can and will bite or sting if they feel threatened", but this would depend on the species.

A spokesman said: "Flying ants swarm during the summer months. This is believed to be due to the temperature, humidity and wind conditions being just right for them. Little is known about why flying ants swarm during this time as opposed to spring, like flying termites, or around which signals flying ants use to start their swarm with other colonies.

"After they have successfully mated, the male flying ant dies and the queen locates a new place to start her new colony and begins work on building the nest. The location for this depends on the species.

"Flying carpenter ants will find a piece of timber to inhabit whilst garden ants will build their nest in the ground.

"Once a nest has been found the new queen will shed her wings and start a new colony. If successful, the new queen will lay her first batch of eggs, looking after the young until they develop into workers.

"From then on, her sole purpose is to keep laying eggs for the colony, with the workers taking on the rest of the duties of the colony such as looking after the young, foraging for food and expanding the nest."

The company also gave these tips to help prevent the swarms entering your home or business.

- Seal cracks and crevices around your property to reduce the entry points for flying ants

- Keep windows and doors shut to reduce the ways in which they can enter your home or business

- Install a fly screen to prevent flying ants entering your home while windows and doors are open.