FLYING ANTS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1933, Page 3

FLYING ANTS

ABANDONED DAY’S OUTING

INVASION OF MILLIONS

AUCKLAND, March 22

Swarms of flying ants disturbed bathers, picnickers and fishing parties during the week-end. They were reported over; a very wide. area, but particularly by fishing and beach parties on'the Manukau.

Several -of the fishing parties near Manukau Heads had to abandon their day’s sport and make for shore. When the ruts arrived in millions they were generally mistaken for sandflies. They bit ever.vbcdyi with impartiality, and insistence. The only thng to do was to acknowledge that the ant was victor for the day.' Some 5f the lioticla/y-makers who went bathing on the Manukau beaches found themelves covered with ants before they could reach the water. It was just as bad on the way back. The bites raised lumps and made rashes. Seine people seemed to suffer much mere than others.

A tramping party at Wattle Bay waged war with' the flying host unsuccessfully. The experience of thehampers was that inland the insects were riot so numerous.

Fishing 'parties at the Tamaki estuary also found the ants very troublesome. Clothing was not an adequate protection. They penetrated everywhere, and soon . everybody wjbs scratching and slapping. In another direction—Orewa- Beach —there were ants by the million. Near high water mark they 'made a black mark of an inch or two deep which stretched far up the coast. When they, took wing they made a big black smudge. ' The explanation of the myriads of ants was. probably that the swarming season had begun. On the wing they, move about a lot in search of a new home.