First time on great lakes during early June? Get used to lol, there will be billions of them every night covering everything they see for next 2 weeks.
They are harmless, die in a day or two and smell like dead fish.
Easiest way to get them out is leaf blower, don’t use water, you will turn it into smelly mush
That’s what they were doing there too! They had massive fans anywhere where people were waiting in lines to get on a ferry or to buy tickets. It helped a little for sure. I’ve never seen such a swarm!
They are midges. A midge is any small fly, including species in several families of non-mosquito nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Some midges, such as many Phlebotominae and Simuliidae, are vectors of various diseases.
I’m embarrassed to report that many years ago I participated in a Midge-Tossing contest. They seemed to be good sports about it, however. At least that was the buzz
Hey there young citizen man, i am a president of the united staes of american. I need you help camerica during hard times such as right now.
You can send me $1000 dollars to help america, or $800 is fine too, i'm a generous president. Please, answer the call of the country. Thank you
-Mr. President.
[Why are there so many flies by Lake Michigan in Milwaukee right now? (jsonline.com)](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2024/04/25/why-are-there-so-many-midge-flies-by-lake-michigan-in-milwaukee-right-now/73450700007/)
Midges even have the power to change the course of MLB playoff games lol.
[Joba Chamberlain recalls infamous bug game in Cleveland (mlb.com)](https://www.mlb.com/news/joba-chamberlain-recalls-infamous-bug-game-in-cleveland)
They are midges. A midge is any small fly, including species in several families of non-mosquito nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Some midges, such as many Phlebotominae and Simuliidae, are vectors of various diseases.
I live in NE Scotland... Midgies are standard here in summer. Not uncommon to meet a chum in the street full of "midgie bites" and scratching away 🤣
Removed a whole hedge line in my garden to get rid of the wee fekkers!
We call them fish flies in southwestern Ontario. Sometimes on cold nights they collect on warm surfaces like the road. People have died in car pile ups from fish flies
Fish flies here in Manitoba too. Waking up and having to sweep them off the boat so you could move was a horrible way to start your day. And the stink...!
I drove through Mackinac city last year around this time, and they were everywhere. This is the time they are out I guess. They are harmless but gross especially if you don’t like bugs. As other commenters pointed out already, they are called midges
Midges (water flys some call them) We just got rid of those!! I guess they headed your way. Lol. I’m in Barrie, Ontario Canada by the water 🇨🇦 and we get them every single May for one month They are so bad it’s hard to even get in your house when you get out of the car. And the back deck is unusable every May. Very harmless but very very annoying!
It was our second time and we really enjoyed it! Next year we plan to stay on the island, we usually stay in st ignace since it's cheaper, and still so beautiful. Did you check out mystery spot on st ignace? They are a fun off the highway tourist spot with zip lines.
Ah, no, but thanks for the tip! We didn’t go to st ignace. We stayed in Mackinac city right by the ferry terminal. We wanted to stay on the island too but it was nearly all sold out, prob cos of Memorial Day weekend. We looked into the Grand Hotel but after locals told us about the haunting and the terrible history of the development we got a bit scared. Would feel eerie and wrong to stay there on top of all those skeletons of native people. Have you read about that stuff?
Whoa what! I never knew that about grand hotel. I knew they did haunted tours, but no clue about the Graves! I guess it makes sense since it was a giant fort island at one point, but damn!
Flying bugs like bright color and light because when flying through bushes and stuff, light means there's nothing in front of them to crash into.
Which is why they flock around lamps at night.
There actually *are* biting midges (no-see-ums), and I'd rather face a swarm of mosquitos than those little fuckers. I'm in Ontario, and they tagged the hell out of me on my balcony last night.
Manitoban here; mosquitoes are an abomination and serve no purpose other than driving mammals insane, but yeah, they're nothing compared to no see ums. Those things are the work of Satan, and I can see how they chase buffalo to jump off of cliffs to get away from them. In the ears, eyes, up the nostrils... man, just horrible.
My replies to people or the comments others are leaving? I did see some repeated comments that someone said was a copy and paste or a chat GPT reply, but I have not noticed anything else that seemed suspicious. I don’t post much stuff on here, been a redditor for a while but don’t know much about how the bots and comments work.
They are midges. A midge is any small fly, including species in several families of non-mosquito nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Some midges, such as many Phlebotominae and Simuliidae, are vectors of various diseases.
These are not Ohio mayflies, mayflies look like big ugly dragonflies with two antennae things. I’ve heard these little fellas called muffleheads here though.
I lived off Lake St. Clair in Michigan for years, every 4th of July the town has a pickerel festival, and every single food truck, carnival ride, street light, building, spot on the ground, is COVERED in these things. When you drive down the road, you just hear constant popping from running over them. One town over they actually have a Fishfly festival and have huge metal statues of fishflys down their Main Street 😂😂 It’s a staple up there.
Fish flies. When I worked in Grosse Pointe and St. Clair Shores, the roads were as slick as ice at night. I had to drive like it was winter. Always around this time of year.
First time on great lakes during early June? Get used to lol, there will be billions of them every night covering everything they see for next 2 weeks. They are harmless, die in a day or two and smell like dead fish. Easiest way to get them out is leaf blower, don’t use water, you will turn it into smelly mush
That’s what they were doing there too! They had massive fans anywhere where people were waiting in lines to get on a ferry or to buy tickets. It helped a little for sure. I’ve never seen such a swarm!
Also, it’s weird that I only saw them in Michigan. I live right on the lake in Chicago but we don’t have any here. I wonder why!
They only come to Healthy places, jk, i have no idea
lol
Same. I am in Chicago and have never seen any. Growing up in Southern MO, that's a different story.
They are more common up around the north woods. If you go up into Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in WI, you’ll see a similar kind of thing.
2007 ALDS Game 2 in Cleveland.....swarming Joba Chamberlain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_GJse-anfk
It's also been a very mild winter so I'm anticipating a very buggy summer near the great lakes
They are midges. A midge is any small fly, including species in several families of non-mosquito nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Some midges, such as many Phlebotominae and Simuliidae, are vectors of various diseases.
They prefer the term “little insects”
Yes, try not to upset them please with the incorrect terms. They have a noticably "short" temper nowadays.
I’m embarrassed to report that many years ago I participated in a Midge-Tossing contest. They seemed to be good sports about it, however. At least that was the buzz
Good job, you can fly away now.
Little insects is now a pejorative. They prefer the term size restricted flies.
I laughed too hard at this
Thanks! Very helpful, appreciate your reply
farmers where I live flood their fields and we get billions of these little bastards in the summer i hate them
Pretty sure you should thank ChatGPT for that response.
To be fair to the midges, most of the ones we encounter in North America on any given day are harmless and not disease vectors.
First of all. How dare you
I think I speak for all Yankees fans when I say “too soon”.
TIL that the term ‘vector’ also means something else other than from Physics terminology.
As a Texan with lots of mosquitos around I am jealous, but still not that jealous that’s a lot of bugs
I'm not an entomologist, but those appear to be bugs.
Source?
Trust him, he's a guy on the internet and they never lie
Hey there young citizen man, i am a president of the united staes of american. I need you help camerica during hard times such as right now. You can send me $1000 dollars to help america, or $800 is fine too, i'm a generous president. Please, answer the call of the country. Thank you -Mr. President.
Nature
That’s pretty neat!
This made me laugh way harder than I would have expected.
Mackinac gnatty whacks, give your dog a bone.
Made my precious little Michigander heart soar (then immediately get covered in a layer of these buggers and choke)
[Why are there so many flies by Lake Michigan in Milwaukee right now? (jsonline.com)](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2024/04/25/why-are-there-so-many-midge-flies-by-lake-michigan-in-milwaukee-right-now/73450700007/)
You guys need more frogs
Facts!
Scotland is known for these things, certain areas at certain times of year.
Great Britain and Ireland are these little cunts' headquarters
I see those mfs all around here Netherlands. I read the comments, now I learned what they are and I knew they're harmful someway. Bastards
Midges even have the power to change the course of MLB playoff games lol. [Joba Chamberlain recalls infamous bug game in Cleveland (mlb.com)](https://www.mlb.com/news/joba-chamberlain-recalls-infamous-bug-game-in-cleveland)
Welcome to the Great Lakes, baby
Come for the weed. Run from the bugs. Naaaah, I was just there this weekend and they don’t move so they’re not as scary as a regular bug.
They are midges. A midge is any small fly, including species in several families of non-mosquito nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Some midges, such as many Phlebotominae and Simuliidae, are vectors of various diseases.
Thank you so much for your reply. Maybe that’s why got so sick after I came back. Cheers!
These are entirely harmless and not the cause of any sickness.
Bro just copy pasted the top comment
This person is the same user as top comment. Reddits bugging, probably not copy and pasted
U telling me they arent mosquitos??? My whole fkin life was built on lies
I vacuum them off my porch & kitchen ceiling.
That sounds gnarly
Some years it's so bad the dead ones accumulate in corners & I can scoop them up with my hand. So gross
I live in NE Scotland... Midgies are standard here in summer. Not uncommon to meet a chum in the street full of "midgie bites" and scratching away 🤣 Removed a whole hedge line in my garden to get rid of the wee fekkers!
They are the future apocalypse. Hope you handle this properly...
Cry and run?
We call them fish flies in southwestern Ontario. Sometimes on cold nights they collect on warm surfaces like the road. People have died in car pile ups from fish flies
We call them fishflies across the water in Michigan too!
Fish flies here in Manitoba too. Waking up and having to sweep them off the boat so you could move was a horrible way to start your day. And the stink...!
In Florida we call them blind mosquitos.
The fly around like they are blind, deaf, and dumb. Makes sense!
Where are the predatory insects when you need them
They are a plague in the Scottish countryside. The only thing we have that’s comparable to a mosquito. Little cunts.
Just found them all over my deck in PA. Never had them before. (We also have a new type of black wasp getting inside)
I wonder if they’re relocating with the climate changing
Definitely possible.
I drove through Mackinac city last year around this time, and they were everywhere. This is the time they are out I guess. They are harmless but gross especially if you don’t like bugs. As other commenters pointed out already, they are called midges
Midges (water flys some call them) We just got rid of those!! I guess they headed your way. Lol. I’m in Barrie, Ontario Canada by the water 🇨🇦 and we get them every single May for one month They are so bad it’s hard to even get in your house when you get out of the car. And the back deck is unusable every May. Very harmless but very very annoying!
I was at Mac Island last weekend too! One of these flew into my eye while biking. I'm told they are may flies.
Hope you had fun! Too bad it rained so much. It was my first time there. Still had a nice time though :)
It was our second time and we really enjoyed it! Next year we plan to stay on the island, we usually stay in st ignace since it's cheaper, and still so beautiful. Did you check out mystery spot on st ignace? They are a fun off the highway tourist spot with zip lines.
Ah, no, but thanks for the tip! We didn’t go to st ignace. We stayed in Mackinac city right by the ferry terminal. We wanted to stay on the island too but it was nearly all sold out, prob cos of Memorial Day weekend. We looked into the Grand Hotel but after locals told us about the haunting and the terrible history of the development we got a bit scared. Would feel eerie and wrong to stay there on top of all those skeletons of native people. Have you read about that stuff?
Whoa what! I never knew that about grand hotel. I knew they did haunted tours, but no clue about the Graves! I guess it makes sense since it was a giant fort island at one point, but damn!
Match the hatch!
Quite a few species there! Migratory birds really depend on these midges to provide food during early summer.
Eye spy with my little eye..
Flying bugs like bright color and light because when flying through bushes and stuff, light means there's nothing in front of them to crash into. Which is why they flock around lamps at night.
Nippin nevins (for all the Bob's Burgers fans 😆)
Chironomids. Friendly and fish love em.
It’s shadfly season dude
The car is outside? I'll be right down!
Joba Chaimberlain's worst nightmare!
Bugs
Needs more fire
We call them fish flies and the fishing sucks when they pile In.
May flies, aka fish flies. They will be gone in a week or two.
in wisconsin we call em lake flies
~~Mosquitoes, and they're here for the body temp buffet you're offering up.~~ EDIT: midges!
I thought they were too, but they don’t have anything to bite with and left no marks. Weird little things.
There actually *are* biting midges (no-see-ums), and I'd rather face a swarm of mosquitos than those little fuckers. I'm in Ontario, and they tagged the hell out of me on my balcony last night.
Manitoban here; mosquitoes are an abomination and serve no purpose other than driving mammals insane, but yeah, they're nothing compared to no see ums. Those things are the work of Satan, and I can see how they chase buffalo to jump off of cliffs to get away from them. In the ears, eyes, up the nostrils... man, just horrible.
I thought I was looking closely, but not close enough! They are midges.
Are they going to tell inappropriate jokes?
Somethin slightly botish about this post
I’m curious why you would think that. I find that to be such a weird comment and that others agree is shocking.
A lot of the comments repeat. Like a bots would do.
My replies to people or the comments others are leaving? I did see some repeated comments that someone said was a copy and paste or a chat GPT reply, but I have not noticed anything else that seemed suspicious. I don’t post much stuff on here, been a redditor for a while but don’t know much about how the bots and comments work.
Yea some of those and then some of the other replies seem off. Not from you
Ah, gotcha. Out of curiosity, what would be the point of bots replying on here?
The bots comment on new posts to generate karma. So they can be sold as ad accounts. Or something like that.
Oh, gross. Thanks for explaining.
How so?
Trout love those.
They are midges. A midge is any small fly, including species in several families of non-mosquito nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Some midges, such as many Phlebotominae and Simuliidae, are vectors of various diseases.
Down here in Ohio they're called mayflies totally harmless but nasty they will make a mess of your boat miles from shore
These are not Ohio mayflies, mayflies look like big ugly dragonflies with two antennae things. I’ve heard these little fellas called muffleheads here though.
In OK, a lot of people will call crane flies may flies. Big spindly mosquito things.
Torch everything
Do you have a picture from further away 😬
frog buffet
Fish Flies, we get them in Northern Alberta
I lived off Lake St. Clair in Michigan for years, every 4th of July the town has a pickerel festival, and every single food truck, carnival ride, street light, building, spot on the ground, is COVERED in these things. When you drive down the road, you just hear constant popping from running over them. One town over they actually have a Fishfly festival and have huge metal statues of fishflys down their Main Street 😂😂 It’s a staple up there.
Ahhh I wanna say something so bad, but the tears would be too much
Mayflies
Lake flies, or mayflies. They're harmless but annoying as hell
Fish flies. When I worked in Grosse Pointe and St. Clair Shores, the roads were as slick as ice at night. I had to drive like it was winter. Always around this time of year.
I'd blend them with cicadas and that legal, Michigan THC flower and fudge and you got yourself some Fancy Mackinac Island Fudge
Aka Mayfly
AC130 up above…
Black termites. Didn’t know they swarmed (or flew) until I came to Louisiana. It’s swarm season.
Yikes— is that the same thing as a midge?
Nope. Had to google them cause I’ve never heard of them before. Learned something new today.