Burning Man Bug Infestation Under Investigation

Some are smelly, while others, according to the Sonoran Desert Naturalist field guide, “may seek moisture by inserting their proboscis into the skin – i.e. they bite and can be rather annoying!” Some of the experts have already identified them as stink bugs. But before their arrival, the campgrounds were visited by another group of guests: bugs. The event starts on the last Monday in August, ending on the first Monday in September, which brings it into Labor Day.

Wealthy Pollack, a public well being entomologist and senior environmental public well being officer at Harvard College, stated he thinks the bugs proven in footage are stink bugs and that the smaller flying bugs are a sort of seed bug. Though, these bugs don’t want to feed on human beings. It doesn’t sound like it, and there are a few reasons why.

Looks like fans might not be the only revelers attending the upcoming Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert. Folks are seeing their vehicle tires covered with the bugs and they’ve got the insect bites to prove they’re plentiful. They’re in all places. All we know is that if you pick up some wood, you’re likely to uncover hundreds or thousands of the things.

Blogger John Curley wrote: ‘You may have seen the bug rumors on the internet.

While the Burning Man playa is usually free of most bugs to the dry, hot desert conditions, Wild tells Gizmodo that there may be a reason for this year’s infestation: “Desert species are prone to boom/bust cycles”. The plants they love to eat came to life after the drenching rains. It is assumed that the heavy rain stimulated plants to grow and thus plant feeders appeared in a large number as well.

Pollack explained that it’s possible the bright lights used by crews setting up for Burning Man attracted the insects in large numbers. Sheehy also recommends bug spray, particularly a type with a good amount of DEET. “Keep it clean and keep an eye on it. If you do develop redness or warmth around the area, make sure to get it checked out”, she says. “When these crops begin to brown up, they’re going to disperse or die”. This means that there will be a Burning Man-dying bug stage of the event!