US: Wisconsin town under attack from Mayflies

[webfact]

Wisconsin town of La Crosse under attack from Mayflies


Source: Twitter @bug_gwen

LA CROSSE: -- IF you’re a squeamish person you may not want to read on.

Pictures have emerged from the city of La Crosse in Wisconsin,US showing an explosion of tiny flies. What appears to be a storm-cloud taking over the city on Sunday is actually a swarm of thousands of mayflies taking flight. The bunch was so large it was seen on weather radar.

The bugs blanketed everything from gas stations to roads.

Police say the large hatch may have triggered a three-vehicle crash on a Wisconsin road.

Two people were injured in the crash with one person taken to a local hospital.

Mayfly nymphs spend a year or two in the water (in this case, the Mississippi River) feeding on organic decay. Then, when summer arrives, they fly off and mate before immediately heading back to the water to lay eggs and die, The Atlantic Citylab reports.

Full story: http://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/wisconsin-town-of-la-crosse-under-attack-from-mayflies/story-fnh81jut-1226999795306

-- News.com.au 2014-07-24

[T_Dog]

Guess I will stop complaining about our night time termite hatch!

[Tywais]

Food for thought.

Adult mayflies are basically gonads with wings. They don’t eat; some species don’t even have working mouthparts. They are not interested in your puny roads and ATM money machines, humans. They need to get busy gettin’ it on in a massive mayfly orgy. (Also, male mayflies have two penises. I thought you’d want to know.)

The mayfly species emerging this week lives only one night as an adult. They mate, the male dies after ejaculation, and the female feebly flutters off to lay her eggs. The name for this group of insects is Ephemeroptera, from the Greek word for “short-lived” or “ephemeral”.

Source - Wired.com

[Shot]

How is this possible? It's July!

[chuckd]

How is this possible? It's July!

Blame it on either global warming or George Bush.

[boomerangutang]

Two penises?! I have trouble enough with one.

[wwest5829]

Food for thought.

Adult mayflies are basically gonads with wings. They dont eat; some species dont even have working mouthparts. They are not interested in your puny roads and ATM money machines, humans. They need to get busy gettin it on in a massive mayfly orgy. (Also, male mayflies have two penises. I thought youd want to know.)

The mayfly species emerging this week lives only one night as an adult. They mate, the male dies after ejaculation, and the female feebly flutters off to lay her eggs. The name for this group of insects is Ephemeroptera, from the Greek word for short-lived or ephemeral.

Source - Wired.com

Quick!! I knew we were being invaded. Call out the National Guard and bring up the armed good ole boys from the Texas border to stem this invasion! Whoa, looks like they may already be too late.

[catweazle]

It's the Russians, disguised as Mayflies!!! Quick, quick, ask CNN to declare that WW3 has officially begun!!!!

[impulse]

I see all those mayflies and all I can think about is fly fishing...

[Mrjlh]

The swarms actually showed up on the weather radars. That's how many there were.

[anam600]

It is very sad news

[Payboy]

Two penises?! I have trouble enough with one.

Always hand to have a spare, just in case one gets stuck in a fly.