Flying ants swarm the Philadelphia area

Tuesday, September 12, 2017
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Something was bugging Philadelphia area residents on Monday night.

Swarms of flying insects seemed to take over parts of the Delaware Valley.
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Action News viewers from South Philadelphia, Center City, Bucks and Montgomery counties called in to say the insects - thought to be gnats but later revealed to be flying ants - were covering everything from trash cans to windows.

The reports Monday are a result of the insects mating in a one-day, once-a-year occurrence, experts say.



Gnats seen swarming in Medford, NJ

Meanwhile, Philadelphia police were at a loss for words.
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They tweeted, "Hmm. No, We don't know where all of these gnats came from, either. However, we, for one, welcome our new insect overlords," in a reference to an episode of The Simpsons.


And the Philadelphia Department of Health warns not to use flamethrowers (in a tweet using another Simpsons reference).



Flying ants swarm the Philadelphia area

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