A group of flying ants that hit the UK was so dense it could be seen in satellite images from space.

Here's everything you need to know about the natural phenomenon.

What are flying ants?

Flying ants, or ‟alates,” as entomologists refer to them, are simply ants that are sexually mature.

When the ant colony is naturally ready to expand, the winged ants get ready to take the stage.

Mature male and female ants fly out of their colonies with one purpose in mind: to mate.

Why is Flying Ant Day a thing?

Flying Ant Day is scientifically referred to as nuptial flight, the phenomena where virgin queens mate with males before starting new colonies.

For humans this basically means a large quantity of ants whizzing around. 

The natural event has been described as "early Christmas" for seagulls, who enjoy feasting on the insects.

While it has been dubbed 'Flying Ant Day', a project by the Royal Society of Biology found that the widely held idea is actually a misconception.

They found rather than a single day, it is more of a season. 

Swaming is triggered by the weather and tends to happen in July or August.

The study discovered that ants only flew on days when it was warm, not windy and conditions had improved compared to the previous day.

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Are flying ants dangerous?

While the sight of a huge swarm of insets can be scary, flying ants are pretty harmless to humans.

This is because they are concentrating on mating.

The flying ants in the UK rarely bite, but even if they do the NHS website says the bites “are generally harmless, although you’ll probably feel a nip".

How long do flying ants live for?

Flying ants only live up to a couple of days after flying ant day.

This is why it is common to see hundreds of dead ants on footpaths and car bonnets after the event.

News Shopper: Flying ants have been reported across south LondonFlying ants have been reported across south London

However, Queen ants can live up to 15 years - but they only spend a small portion of their lives and flying ants.

How do you get rid of flying ants?

Even though they're harmless, flying ants are still annoying - but fortunately, there are many household items which can be used to get rid once and for all.

Spraying with dish-washing soap mixed with water can dehydrate the ants.

Although its effectiveness is debated, aspartame-based sweetener can also be used.

Combining it with juice to form a paste means the critters will carry it back to their colony - killing off some of the ant population in the process.

Distributing some insecticidal powder around window and door openings can also prevent the ants from entering your home.