It is likely the ant species yearly nuptial flight, in which the males and the females (virgin queens) reproduce (i.e. female is sterilized and makes an ant colony sensu stricto). The virgin queens lose their wings after mating, while the males eventually die afterwards. Then nesting process begins. Very cool sight to see!!

- Jalisco Pine (I am not an insect expert)

Jalisco is not an insect expert, but Jalisco is absolutely right! They are not termites, which some might warn you about. You just witnesses this annual exhibition when plain ol ants don wings in order to expand their species.

If you lived in the south, you’d see Fire ants do this…not a pleasant thought, to say the least!

Hmmmm I thought winged ants swarmed in late spring - early summer? I’m surprised they are doing this in August.

I think it depends on the ant species. We tend to overgeneralize ant lifestyles even though there is a huge amount of diversity between species in just about everything they do.

The ants in my area (I don't know what they are but they are innocuous) swarm any time of year after a gentle rain. And you never see wingless individuals joining in.

Extremely interesting thread!

debra