Flying Ant Day

As I came out of the back door after lunch I saw frenetic activity on a paving slab over a black ants' nest. The large, winged, virgin queens were emerging, together with some smaller winged males. The rest of the ants were scurrying around excitedly. I watched as the females groomed themselves and then launched into the air on their nuptial flights. They will mate and then return to earth, bite off their wings and start new colonies. The males will die soon after mating.

I've added an image of a silver y moth to extras. What amazing camouflage it has against that dead clover flower.