Are winged ants a sign of impending rain?
Not necessarily. A winged ant is called an Elate. They are the virgin females and males that will someday fly away to mate and start a new colony. Ants, especially Elates, come to the surface usually just “after” a rain, because the water has softened the ground and the Elates can therefore dig down into the soil easier to start a new nest. Termites do the same thing, because, not only is the earth softened, but so are fallen logs and old trees. After the female Elate ant has been mated with she is a queen and after digging down into the soil, she begins laying eggs and the new colony of ants is born. The high humidity level, caused by the moisture in the ground from the rains, not only helps her dig, but is also very necessary to keep the eggs and larvae from drying out. Ants are fascinating creatures and very, very necessary to the health of our planet.
