Mass swarming event - ants, termites and gnats
Following considerable period of hot and dry weather this summer in Australia, we recently experienced a significant rain event, with in excess of 150mm rain over 3 days in early March. This was the catalyst for the most extensive swarm of flying ants, termites and gnats I have seen for a long time, appearing from the afternoon of 7 March.
Most swarms could not be seen easily until you got close, but at sunset the light lit up each column of insects - see observation. In the image for the observation, what looks like sprays or fumes above the ground and trees were all swarms.
The ants were generally swarming above or near their nests, while termites were usually swarming above either tree, tree stump or timber fence post where the colonies are. Gnats were also swarming, often with the column above a tree or other plant. Of course the many local insectivorous birds were having a large feed that afternoon.
Our house was swarmed with winged ants and termites that evening, confirming the range of species swarming.
