Thread: Flying ants

On Monday, about 9 p.m., the flying ants attacked Ubon. Every street and houselight was inundated with small flying ants, so much so that you had to switch off any lights to make them go away. Next morning, the place was flooded with the ants' wings that they appeared to have discarded on their journey to wherever they were going.

When I enquired with the locals about the types of ants, where they came from and what caused them, I was informed that the bigger versions were "zap" (aroi), that they ate the wood in the house and they came after the rain (there was a big rainstorm on Monday in the area).

My understanding of termites/white ants is that they are subterranean and light-sensitive, so you don't see them until the structure collapses or you break the wood open. However, the locals assure me that these ones eat the timber in the house. An internet search tells me that termites do fly.

Any ideas, anyone?

Incidentally, the next evening, the bigger version of the ants appeared, but not in the same numbers (just hundreds of millions of wings, instead of thousands of millions).

Does anyone else get them?

bobf

They are called "maleng maow", here anyway, dont know what it is in English. The spwan every year just after heavy rain, it will probably happen a few times over the season. They live underground and dont eat timber as far as I'm aware

I concur with RC.

We have been getting the largerones for the last few days.
The locals here eat them

I have always been told they are termites. But hell I dont really know!!
We have had them twice this year.

I'm pretty sure that they are'nt ant's or termites, just some flying inscet type bug thing

Had loads of them last night here in Northern Bkk. I was picking them off the screen door and feeding them to my kid's terrapin.

Hope they're not termites because a few got into the house and started going walkabout on the tv screen.

Originally Posted by RandomChances

I'm pretty sure that they are'nt ant's or termites, just some flying inscet type bug thing

I'm pretty sure that I don't care. They're sure a fruiting mess on the visor.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

I concur with RC.

We have been getting the largerones for the last few days.
The locals here eat them

There's a fucking surprise Is there anything here they don't eat?

Fuckin' things are everywhere. They are potential queen ants. They will try to start a colony those that cannot start a colony will actually revert to noramal sized worker ants.
I know this because I saw it on the Discovery channel once a few years back

^
you mean they will shrink??
Find that dificult to believe.

My cats are enjoying them, but they don't seem to like the wings.

Saving me a bit on cat food.

Originally Posted by friscofrankie

I know this because I saw it on the Discovery channel once a few years back

I found out that whales have huge dicks from the Discovery Channel. Money damn well spent.

They are a pain in the arse.I've started shooting them with my BB gun.

Total Kills: 4

Maimed Insects:12

Total shots: 682

I'm good!

Originally Posted by RandomChances

"maleng maow"

It's so dilicious, I reckon.

my wife caught a few in a bottle last night, attracted them to it somehow.
deep fried they are ok, but not really delicious.

She used too much oil in my opinion.

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

^
you mean they will shrink??
Find that dificult to believe.

My cats are enjoying them, but they don't seem to like the wings.

Saving me a bit on cat food.

Yep they actually shrink. Fuckin bugs do some wierd shit man.

go shop and buy good poison !

I remember this happening in the wifes village once freaked me out, the next day you could sweep up the wings into a pile the size of a compost heep.