Active ants swarming

SOUTHPORT tram travellers have been mobbed by swarms of flying ants looking for mates.

The winged creatures were spotted by a commuter yesterday morning swarming over fixtures, bugging passengers and landing on their clothes at the Nerang St stop.

Senior curator of entomology for the Queensland Musuem Dr Chris Burwell said it was likely the recent conditions brought the ants out.

“Ants live in colonies, they’re social insects,” he said.

“They wind down during winter, just tick over. They start bumping up production ... waiting until the time is ripe. We’ve finally had some decent spring rain (so they) release the winged males and females.”