SWARMS OF ANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 67, 21 March 1933, Page 9

SWARMS OF ANTS

BATHERS ATTACKED

AUCKLAND VISITATION

Vast swarms of flying ants passed over the Manukau Harbour on Sunday afternoon, says the "New Zealan.d Herald." Millions of the insects were seen and launch parties were forced to seek shelter, while many bathers were attacked, a number being extensively bitten.

The insects appeared to be crossing the harbour from south to north, clustering on everything in their path. A fishing party on the launch Lueinda, which was'anchored inside the heads, was caught in a cloud of ants which were so troublesome that the party re. turned to Cornwallis. At the anchorage at the heads the water to the edge of the shore was practically covered with millions of ants. Other fishing parties had to abandon their fishing. Other largo swarms attacked bathers at nearly all the beaches on the harbour. They were seen in great numbers at Blockhouse Bay, where there were many people in the water, and along the shore from Weeks Island to Cornwallis. Some bathers were extensively bitten about the arms, the bites raising lumps, while picnickers on the shore soon found their clothes black with the insects and were forced to seek shelter. It was not long before the ants completely covered stationary objects. Later in the day great clusters of dead ants were washed ashore.

Three weeks ago fairly large swarms were seen off Onetangi, but it is many years since ants have appeared in Auckland in such large numbere. The director of the-War Memorial Museum (Mr. Gilbert Archey) stated that swarms of ants, which were a yearly phenomenon, seemed much greater this year than usual, and had been in evidence in various par,ts of Auckland for tho past month. Exceptional numbers occurred at various periods, the cause not being known. Probably it was dueto favourable weather conditions .for the past year or two increasing the total number of ants and a continuance of suitable conditions during the swarming period.

Over a dozen varieties of ants were known iri New Zealand, and all had a period of flight towards the end of their life, analogous to the swarming of bees. A certain number of the ants in each colony grew wings towards the end of their adult existence, and these left to found a new' colony and spread the species over a wider area. All the varieties were capable of biting human beings, but it was not often that they attacked." The soldier ■•ants attached to each colony were the most likely to bite, but only a very' small number, if any, of these ants would accompany a swarm.