A warning has been issued to drivers to stay vigilant when passing ‘drunk’ seagulls as flying ants continue to emerge across the Isle of Wight.

Skippers Sanctuary, a local sanctuary that provides long-term care for disabled and ‘unreleasable’ wild birds, is alerting Island drivers travelling around the dual carriageway.

Due to ‘Flying Ant Day’, gulls swarm onto grass verges to gorge on the ants as they appear.

The ants contain formic acid, which makes the gulls behave as if they are drunk.

Flying antsFlying ants (Image: Jamie Burston Art/PA Wire)

The gulls’ responses are impaired, and they will not fly out of the way of vehicles as they usually would.

A few years ago, the Skippers Sanctuary received seven or eight herring gull bodies from the short stretch of dual carriageway in Newport in just ten minutes, shortly after rush hour.

A spokesperson said: “Please get the word out that anyone on the dual carriageway, the Quay, industrial estate and surrounding areas should be aware of this.

"Please slow down and be prepared to stop, as these birds will not behave as normal.

“Hopefully, we can prevent too many casualties by making as many people aware of this as possible.”

When is Flying Ant Day?

The idea that there is a single flying ant day each year is a myth. 

There are several weeks between the end of July and the beginning of August when the ants reach peak numbers, and the mating can take place at different times across the country, depending on weather conditions. 

The ants want a hot day, usually above 25C, but preferably 30C.

It also cannot be too windy, and often it has rained recently or will rain soon. 

The swarms tend to peak on one day in particular, but mating can last a few weeks.