«May Bugs Swarm Windows and Streetlights». Scientists Explain Their Mass Appearance
Belarusians are massively discussing May bugs on social media — in some areas, there are so many of them that they literally cover streetlights, hit windows, and gather by the hundreds under building entrances.
Many have already called what is happening an anomaly, but scientists say there is nothing unusual about it.
The Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Bioresources explained that the current «invasion» is not due to a sharp increase in population, but to the so-called synchronized emergence of the beetles, writes BelTA.
Two types of May bugs live on the territory of Belarus: western and eastern. Both are very similar in appearance and are considered serious pests for young forests, fruit trees, and garden crops.
Adult beetles usually appear at the end of April, and their peak activity falls in mid-May. They become especially active on warm evenings and at night.
At the same time, the number of May bugs is cyclical: periods of particularly high activity are observed approximately once every 4-5 years, after which the population decreases again.
But this year, the weather exacerbated the situation. Due to the cold April and early May, the beetles did not emerge gradually, as usual, but appeared almost simultaneously. Then a sharp warming came — and they began to fly actively, creating the effect of a real «invasion».
The Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources emphasizes that this is an absolutely normal phenomenon for nature. Moreover, for some insects, population fluctuations can be much more severe — hundreds or even thousands of times. This does not happen with May bugs.
Scientists assure that the period of mass activity will not last long. Adult individuals live only a few weeks, so they will practically disappear by mid-June. In the south of Belarus, this will happen even earlier.
At the same time, May bugs are completely safe for humans and pets.
Moreover, specialists unexpectedly noted that the insects can even be used beneficially — for example, harvested as a protein supplement for poultry or pigs. The easiest way to collect them is at night, attracted by light. After that, the beetles can be frozen to add to animal feed in winter.
By the way, a mass appearance of May bugs was also observed in Minsk in 2023. Then, according to experts, in the mornings, the asphalt under streetlights in some areas was literally covered with insects.
Comments
На Пцічы надвор'е было такое самае але хрушчоў няма.