This footage shows how millions of dead moths have landed on a Russian road giving the appearance of thick piles of snow on the tarmac.
Local media report that the inhabitants of Blagoveshchensk, in Russia’s Amur Oblast region, are afraid to leave their homes after the area was invaded by millions of moths which only live for one day.
Video Credit: CEN/Amurskaya Pravda
The locals are avoiding the streets as the moths, which are Ephemeroptera – also known in the United Kingdom as up-winged flies – reportedly become entangled in people’s hair and land on their skin.
In the video, what appear millions of moths, according to local media, can be seen swarming around the street lights and the dead bodies of the insects can be seen on the road, making the tarmac look as if it were covered in snow.
Video Credit: CEN/Amurskaya Pravda
The Deputy Director for research at the Norsky Reserve, Nikolai Kolobaev, said insect numbers in the area have been increased by flooding.
He said: “The flood, of course, made adjustments to the ecosystem. It is logical that with increasing humidity the number of mosquitoes increased. And not only in the flooded territories.
“The number of some animal species is also increasing. For example, an increase in the number of grey voles is expected.”
The moths are in mating season and this has lead to the huge increase in their numbers. The male moths die immediately after mating while the females die after laying their eggs – all in just one day.
Reports state cleaners were sent to sweep the dead moths into bags to clear the roads and the river embankment.
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Story By: Amelia Guran, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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