Flying ants have returned to Vancouver and residents are freaking out

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While they may be a sign of the season, they are a hugely unwelcome sign nonetheless.

This week, residents throughout Metro Vancouver have been dealing with visits from one of Mother Nature’s weirdest pests: flying ants.

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And on Tuesday, the situation was particularly creepy.

Flying ants were reported in various locations throughout Metro Vancouver and residents expressed their experience/observation/terror of the situation on Twitter.

According to those in the know, Vancouver’s unofficial, official ant day in the city is the height of the ant mating season.

It’s flying ant day Vancouver 🙁

— tayto mahony (@KateOMahony_) July 10, 2019

What’s with all the flying ants in #Vancouver today? 😬😬

— TheFungi 🇨🇦 (@terribleterrier) July 10, 2019

Looking forward to the rain if only to wash away the flying ant invasion. I don’t recall this ant invasion in previous years. Is this something new for Vancouver?

— Kevin Bowers (@KevinJBowers) July 10, 2019

Does Vancouver have a flying ant infestation? Where did they come from.

— Bareback Contessa (@BL0WJ0BPRINCESS) July 10, 2019

Happy Flying Ants Day, Vancouver!

— Dave Shumka (@daveshumka) July 10, 2019

It’s flying ant season in Vancouver, apparently, and for yet another year I wonder why this city is so damned averse to window screens.

— Erika Thorkelson (@ethorkel) July 9, 2019

Well the flying ants are swarming Vancouver so I guess I’ll be hiding inside for the remainder of the day! #Vancouver #Flying #Ants

— Miss can’t do wrong (@missmuffet79) July 9, 2019

Flying ant day is here @dhoefele @AsimRenyard !!

I’m sure many of you in Vancouver are getting pelted by these queens and males garden ants trying to establish new homes. It’ll be over soon enough (at least for this species).

Here are a bunch of males huddled up at a bus stop! https://t.co/9uYRuG4Jt1 pic.twitter.com/3BZsms3PL2

— Jaime Chalissery (@ChalisseryJaime) July 10, 2019

Danielle Hoefele, a Masters of Pest Management student at SFU, also took to Twitter to confirm that Flying Ant Day has officially arrived.

VANCOUVER! flying ant day is here!!! pic.twitter.com/D14TEshVbv

— Danielle Hoefele (@dhoefele) July 9, 2019

She added that one also flew into her mouth — how delightful.

Flying Ant Day update: One (1) ant flew into my mouth. I think it was male, based on size. I dunno, I was on my bike. pic.twitter.com/vWPU8mfYVI

— Danielle Hoefele (@dhoefele) July 10, 2019

Luckily these flying pests aren’t dangerous, but be sure to keep on high alert or stay indoors altogether until flying ant day/season is over.