Current:Home > MyBurley Garcia|They're "gnot" gnats! Swarms of aphids in NYC bugging New Yorkers -FutureFinance
Burley Garcia|They're "gnot" gnats! Swarms of aphids in NYC bugging New Yorkers
Will Sage Astor View
Date:2025-04-07 17:54:03
New Yorkers who've found themselves walking into a swarm of tiny insects recently should know they're not alone.
Many people took to Twitter to complain about a recent infestation of bugs.
can anyone explain what is happening in nyc right now with these bugs/gnats?
— jerm (@jerm_cohen) June 30, 2023
I thought it was debris from the bad air quality at first, but then I realized that all these small particles all over my body are BUGS pic.twitter.com/gwjeWwVzcS
"I don't know what's going on in New York right now, but look at all these bugs that are dying on my shirt while I'm biking. And they're all in my glasses, too," Twitter user Jeremy Cohen said. "It feels like the apocalypse right now."
Many people think they're gnats, but we've learned the bugs are aphids and they usually feed on plants and leaves.
Expert Sam Anderson, an urban agriculture specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension, says there's no reason to worry.
"It's unusual, but it's not a kind of insect that harms people in any direct kind of way," he said.
They're not the only issue in the air. New Yorkers are keeping a close eye on the city's Air Quality Index due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.
Anderson said, however, "I think it's unlikely that there's a direct connection between the smoke and the aphids."
veryGood! (8)
Related
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- How New York City Is Getting Screwed Out of $4.2 Billion in State Green Bonds
- 'Scamerton': This Detroit Bridgerton ball went so bad, it's being compared to Fyre Fest
- Halloween superfans see the culture catching up to them. (A 12-foot skeleton helped)
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Wisconsin district attorney pursuing investigation into mayor’s removal of absentee ballot drop box
- Cardi B Debuts New Look in First Public Appearance Since Giving Birth to Baby No. 3
- As Hurricane Helene approaches, what happens to the manatees?
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- Honey Boo Boo’s Lauryn Pumpkin Shannon Showcases New Romance 2 Months After Josh Efird Divorce Filing
Ranking
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- 10 homes have collapsed into the Carolina surf. Their destruction was decades in the making
- Kate Winslet Reveals Her Son's Reaction After Finally Seeing Titanic
- Tommy Kramer, former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl QB, announces dementia diagnosis
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Federal lawsuit challenging mask ban in suburban New York county dismissed
- Tech tips to turn yourself into a Google Workspace and Microsoft Office pro
- 4 youths given 'magic mushrooms' by suspected drug dealer, 2 of them overdosed: Police
Recommendation
Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
Court throws out manslaughter charge against clerk in Detroit gas station shooting
Simone Biles Wants Her Athleta Collection to Make Women Feel Confident & Powerful
Hoda Kotb says she is leaving NBC’s ‘Today’ show early next year
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
Hoda Kotb announces 'Today' show exit in emotional message: 'Time for me to turn the page'
Kentucky sheriff accused of killing judge in Letcher County pleads not guilty
What to know about Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight: date, odds, how to watch