A mild winter, a hot and humid climate and strong winds favored the appearance of clouds of aphids in New York. Since the end of June, it has been a real invasion. However, there would be no public health risk.
No connection with the ash cloud
Usually the most disturbing animals and insects are rats, cockroaches and mosquitoes. However, aphids are also part of the pests during the summer period. Since they attack plantsthey are enemies of gardeners, landscapers and other farmers for whom they represent a real annoyance.
As revealed in an article published by the New York Times on June 30, 2023, New York City recently suffered a true infestation of aphids. Very numerous, they form clouds in the sky and disturb the inhabitants. However, the inhabitants are forced to wear a mask to avoid swallowing or inhaling these insects.
At first, the citizens thought that this invasion could have a link with the impressive cloud of ashes coming from the recent fires in Canada which covered the city a few days earlier. However, it seems that is absolutely not the case.
Credits: Roberto Vivancos / Pexels
No public health risk
Harmless to humans, aphids are parthenogenetic. In other words, females can reproduce without any fertilization. This means that these insects often see their population increase very quickly when the conditions are favorable. However, the New York region experienced a very mild winter, which allowed the plants to proliferate more, and this, earlier in the year. Moreover, the current climate in the area is rather hot and humid and the winds are strong. These conditions promote proliferation and dispersal insects in the atmosphere.
Local authorities point out that these swarms of insects do not represent any danger in order to reassure the population. It must be said that aphids do not carry diseases and do not bite humans. They are even generally beneficial to ecosystemsserving as food for many birds and other predatory insects, including parasitoid wasps and lady beetles.
Wearing a mask and covering your skin are the only things locals need to do. Indeed, the authorities will not seek to eliminate the aphids in the air. New Yorkers will therefore have to be patient and wait for the natural cycle to end. The aphid population will decrease under the effect of predators or when climatic conditions change.
2023-07-10 14:20:29
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