Swatted in SW19, f lying ant invaders on Centre Court
THE British summer is often a threat to play at the championships.
But yesterday it wasn’t the prospect of rain threatening to drive players off court – it was a plague of flying ants.
Players, umpires and spectators were seen swatting away the insects as thousands descended on SW19.
They struck on Centre Court – which could have closed its roof had it been the weather causing problems – as Johanna Konta was playing. Her opponent Donna Vekic had to apply insect repellent during a break.
The third day of Wimbledon seemed to coincide with what is known as Flying Ant Day, when millions of the insects take to the skies at once. The phenomenon usually occurs in July or August when wet conditions are followed by warm weather.
The swarm is triggered by a queen who sets off from her nest to start a new colony and emits pheromones to attract new males. The scent causes a chain reaction across thousands of other colonies, each of which can contain up to 5,000 ants.
Miss Konta said: ‘ At one point there was a lot. I definitely have taken home a few both in my belly and in my bags.’
Andy Murray also appeared to be bothered by the insects later and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who battled through the swarm to win his match on Court Two, said: ‘That was strange. Sometimes you have Menace: One of the flying ants them in the US at night and in Australia. This was different, it was in my nose, in my hair.’
Sam Querrey, who won on Court 18, said: ‘I have never seen that before. It was for 30 or 45 minutes and I don’t know what it was.
‘They seemed to go away after a while. But if it got much worse I was wanting to stop because they’re hitting you in the face when you’re trying to hit the ball.
‘I also lost the set when the ants came. I brought it up with the umpire and he laughed. He shrugged it off like no big deal.’
Fans were clearly concerned – the All England Club’s pharmacy sold out of bug spray. Kate Bennett, 19, said: ‘The flying ants are terrible.’
Amy Thelwell, 30, said: ‘It’s so annoying when you’re trying to watch the match and you keep having to swipe them away.’ Henry Maynard, 22, said: ‘I don’t know what it’s like for the players but it’s pretty annoying for the crowd.’