According to recent reports, New York City has been experiencing an unexpected influx of flying insects, adding to the already unpleasant conditions caused by the smoke and haze from Canadian wildfires.
Martin DuPain, a resident, found himself covered in these tiny critters after a short walk, with bugs even making their way into his nose.
The sudden appearance of these insects has sparked curiosity and concern among locals, who are eager to know their origin and whether they will eventually disappear. Could this be another unwanted export from Canada?
Initially, DuPain, a resident of Queens, mistook the flying particles for ash carried by the wind. However, he soon realized that they were living creatures and promptly took a shower.
This unusual sight has been humorously referred to as a “gnatural disaster” on Twitter, where discussions about the swarms have been ongoing.
While some neighborhoods have been affected, others remain unaffected by the influx of bugs. Upon encountering the bugs, individuals attempted various methods to ward them off, such as waving them away, covering their mouths and noses, or even wearing surgical masks.
Although Professor David Lohman, an entomologist at the City University of New York, hadn’t witnessed the insects firsthand, he deduced from photos and videos circulating on social media that they were winged aphids, contrary to the assumption of amateur bug enthusiasts who believed them to be gnats.
Aphids, small pear-shaped insects found across the United States, including New York City, exhibit a range of colors such as green, red, yellow, black, brown, and gray.
Although not an aphid expert, it is noted that the recent swarm of aphids in New York City is unusual. Typically, aphids do not emerge in the city until after summer.
One theory to explain this occurrence is the possibility that warm winter temperatures disrupted the aphids’ biological clock, causing them to appear earlier than expected.
Upon further investigation, Lohman reached out to aphid experts to gain additional insights.
Natalie Hernandez, an expert in aphids, explained that aphids have the ability to fly throughout the entire growing season. When a colony becomes too large or crowded, winged aphids are produced to facilitate dispersal.
Hernandez also suggested that the wildfires in Canada and extreme temperatures may be impacting aphid populations as well.
Andy Jensen, another researcher specializing in aphids, found the theory plausible.
Andy Jensen supported the theory that the presence of smoke from wildfires may be prolonging the abundance of aphids into the summer season. He noted that during the heat of summer, many aphids tend to slow down or cease reproduction.
Despite the unusual swarm of aphids, the New York City Public Health Department assured that there is no cause for alarm.
“Although these insects may be bothersome, they do not pose a significant threat to public health,” stated the department on Friday. They further added, “We are actively investigating these insects and will provide any necessary health-related updates.”
Entomologists reassure the public that the swarms of bugs will likely dissipate soon, bringing relief to individuals like Jeremy Cohen. Cohen, who was biking in Brooklyn, described the sensation of being bombarded by what felt like hailstones.
During his bike ride, Jeremy Cohen had to navigate the streets of Brooklyn with one hand on his handlebars while using the other to cover his mouth and nose.
He did this as a precautionary measure due to the poor air quality caused by the wildfires. Initially, Cohen assumed that the debris from the fires was causing discomfort, but soon he realized that he was actually surrounded by a swarm of bugs.
Cohen, who works as a professional photographer, was captivated by the unexpected phenomenon, despite the annoyance it caused. On the other hand, not everyone shared his enthusiasm for the insects’ presence.
Lohman, on the contrary, saw this influx of bugs as a positive sign. In his perspective, the abundance of aphids indicated a shift towards organic practices in New York.
He believed that if pesticides were heavily used, there wouldn’t be such a large population of these insects.
According to Lohman, this occurrence highlighted the progress made towards sustainable and environmentally-friendly methods of pest control in the city.
He saw it as a testament to the reduction in pesticide usage and an encouraging sign for the organic movement.