“Apple bug”. The Big Apple has had a new nickname for a few days. After experiencing critical air quality in early June with clouds of smoke from Canada, New York is this time crossed by clouds of insects (“bug” in English).
The first testimonies began to rain on social networks last Wednesday. As reported by the New York Times, the inhabitants of the megalopolis spoke of a very large amount of small green insects flying in a small group. While some have found the parade by wearing a mask again, others on social networks show the rather incredible images of mosquitoes infiltrating hair, beards or on t-shirts and car windshields .
A veritable invasion to such an extent that city health department was forced to respond in a statement. “Although it can be annoying, these insects do not pose a known risk to public health. We review these insects and will share any important health information. »
A totally “unusual” episode
If there was more to fear with the fumes from Canada which had made air quality critical and forced the city to take travel limit measures, the swarms of insects should not last in time. “Like most things, it will end as quickly as it started,” predicts, in The GuardianJody Gangloff-Kaufmann, a member of the New York State Pest Control Program at Cornell University.
But where do these insects come from? These are small aphids of the aphidoidea family. Best known on the ground, they spread their wings, in groups, when they are looking for food. “It is unusual for there to be so many swarms of these aphids”, insists all the same, the subject specialist Corrie Moreau at Cornell University in the New York Times.
If it is possible that the fumes of Canada have transported with them particular insects, this is not the case of these aphids according to the specialist. The explanation is much simpler according to her: “It is due to the mild winter. »
2023-07-03 14:35:00
#unusual #smoke #Canada #York #invaded #clouds #insects
