Mating flights
The Black Ant, Ants mate on the wing, so "flying ants" are males and immature queens. Mating / nuptial flights of Lasius niger
usually occur around June to September throughout the species' range;
in North America flights usually occur during the autumn, whereas in
Europe they generally take place during the hot summer months of July
and August. Flights can contain thousands of winged males and females. Disparities between local weather conditions can cause nuptial flights to be out of phase amongst widespread populations of L. niger.
During long-lasting, hot summers, flights can take place simultaneously
across the country, but overcast weather with local patches of sunshine
results in a far less synchronised emergence of alates (winged
individuals). Once the queens have mated they will land and discard their wings and
begin to find a suitable place to dig a tunnel. Meanwhile the males
generally only live for a day or two after the mating flights and will
then die. (sumber.wikipedia) Why ?..
