The invasion has begun.
Mayflies are swarming in Ohio, descending on Lake Erie communities by the millions. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources shared a video to Facebook on June 22 showing the annual visitors completely covering the Division of Wildlife’s Put-in-Bay Aquatic Visitors Center. An earlier swarm was so dense, it was visible on Cleveland weather radar, Meteorologist Mark Johnson from WKYC 3News shared on social media June 12.
In past years, people had to break out power tools like snow plows and leaf blowers to clear dead mayflies.
They make a mess, but the short-lived insects are a sign of good water quality in Lake Erie, per ODNR. Here’s where they have been seen.
Mayflies swarming Ohio’s Lake Erie islands, Put-in-Bay
The video shared by ODNR shows mayflies completely covering the walkway and stairs to the visitor’s center in Put-in-Bay, on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, a few miles offshore from mainland Ohio. The video has generated about 11,000 reactions, been shared roughly 4,600 times and drawn more than 2,700 comments by Tuesday morning, June 23.
The mayfly swarm spotted by Johnson was headed toward Vermillion. It was so thick the radar was identifying the flies as “large raindrops,” the meteorologist wrote, on a day when there was no rain within a hundred miles.
Elsewhere in Ohio, mayflies were “attacking” Lorain, Facebook user Krystl Lee stated in a June 19 post. “I [couldn’t] walk to my car without the popping sounds of them coating the parking lot.”
Lifespan of a mayfly; do mayflies have mouths?
Mayflies are found throughout North America and the world, according to the National Wildlife Federation. They spend most of their lives as nymphs in streams and waterways. After a year or so underwater, mayfly nymphs molt and emerge as adults starting in early June each year to mate and lay eggs for the next generation.
Adult mayflies have no mouth, according to Stroud Water Research Center, and only live for a day or two.
Mayflies indicate good water quality
The Division of Wildlife says mayflies are a strong indicator of good water quality, as they require clean, oxygen rich environments to thrive.
“Historically, mayfly populations in western Lake Erie plummeted in the mid 1900s due to poor water quality,” the Division of Wildlife writes in a Facebook comment. “However, thanks to environmental regulations like the Clean Water act and ongoing conservation efforts, populations rebounded in the 1990s and remain strong today.”
How long does mayfly season last?
Depending on the year, mayfly season can begin in late May and last through early July, according to Erie MetroParks.
How long do mayflies stick around?
Not long. Adult mayflies only live for a day or two.
Are mayflies called Canadian soldiers?
Yes. Mayflies have the nickname Canadian soldiers, per Erie MetroParks.
What eats mayflies? Do birds eat mayflies?
Yes. Birdsandblooms.com calls mayflies a “gift” to insect-eating birds.
Mayflies are also food for spiders, fish, other insects and squirrels.
Midges vs. mayflies
So what’s the difference between mayflies and midges, another insect that hatches from Lake Erie and swarms?
Midges arrive in late spring and early fall, when the lake’s water temperature reaches about 60 degrees, according to the Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners. Smaller than mayflies, midges live about two weeks, with adults surviving 3 to 5 days. Depending on the species, midges can be an indicator of poor water quality because they can tolerate more pollution and lower dissolved oxygen in water than mayflies.
Termites, flying ants can be confused with mayflies
Mayflies can be confused with termites, according to pest control services. Both are active in warm weather, especially after a downpour. But mayflies stand out more, with lighter colors than termites, as well as different wings.
Flying ants add to the confusion.
Flying ants are most likely a type of carpenter ant, according to pest control websites. They can also be confused with termites, because carpenter ants nest in damp wood and can cause damage to buildings. But unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t eat wood — they only chew it to make tunnels.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Millions of mayflies invading Ohio, swarming Lake Erie towns. See video
Reporting by Chad Murphy, USA TODAY NETWORK / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Chad Murphy, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
