@alyzande - My guess is that you actually ran onto a Greenfly swarm. There's been a real plague of them of late... and as I'm from North Cambridge I know exactly what you mean!
@zeeox ive never seen so many in real life... guess because i live in the netherlands.. still scares me though haha.. i wont go outside unless their UP there haha
@lance1236451 - thanks for your comment. Erm, I'm not sure these little fellahs would have done much in the way of dirtying cars but I guess one can occasionally get a swarm of some species or other that can dirty up a car by either congregating on it or being in the way (and getting smashed up) when you drive through it. Flies stoppping a game a footie is a new one on me! :-)
I recently saw something very similar when driving through Denver a few nights ago...except it was like vertical smoke floating above the tree, and not over water. I thought my eyes were fooling me as it did happen at dusk. Thanks so much for posting!!
You're welcome GnomeSlayer! I've seen some films of vertical columns of flies, especially from the U.S., although only above water so your observation is interesting - and would have spooked me a bit too! Perhaps some types of flies that hatch from the tops of trees rather than water create similar swarms if their numbers are big enough. But I've never seen film of the swirling patterns that I witnessed in this video.
Interesting video. I've never seen this type of swarm before. The swarm patterns are strikingly similar to those of birds such as Starlings and schools of fish such as the Sardine.
And thank you for your comments. I guess you're right that the swirling is for defense... and I am assuming it is against birds because it happened in winter, when there weren't many other insects about. It also reminded me of film I've seen of small, 'rope' tornadoes that sometimes form in storms!.
Swarming behaviour is either a defensive action to reduce chances of a predator attack or breeding behaviour where a colony reaches a certain size and the queen has to mate. Bees, wasps and ants all swarm to breed and start new colonies but I've never seen midges do this. It could be related to the fumes/CO2/ warmth given off by the treatment works or heat being given off by the trees. Biting midges, gnats and mosquitos are often attracted to body heat and CO2 from exhaled breath.
P.S. I have since learnt that the 'winter midge' likes to swarm above lakes like Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland so this is likely the same or similar species. But, they tend to do it in just vertical funnels or columns by the looks of things. I have yet to see film or photos of the strange angled swirling displayed here. Also, this was not over open water, and a little away fron the sewer works themselves. It was just next to a cycle bridge behind the dual carriageway bypass!
yuck just ran into a huge swarm, easily as long and wide as the cul de sac, in north cambridge.
alyzande 8 months ago
@alyzande - My guess is that you actually ran onto a Greenfly swarm. There's been a real plague of them of late... and as I'm from North Cambridge I know exactly what you mean!
zeeox 7 months ago
THATS LOTS OF FLIES HOLY BALLS *hides indoors*
stepxunit 8 months ago
@stepxunit - indeed! I'm not sure I'd like my windows open with that lot outside that's for sure! Thanks for commenting.
zeeox 8 months ago
@zeeox ive never seen so many in real life... guess because i live in the netherlands.. still scares me though haha.. i wont go outside unless their UP there haha
stepxunit 8 months ago
@stepxunit - Hey, this is the UK... whatever I saw here I'm sure would be possible in the Netherlands too! :-)
zeeox 7 months ago
oh yah when i was little same thing happen thoundsandof them cover up cars and crap i couldnt even play soccer with my frens
lance1236451 1 year ago
@lance1236451 - thanks for your comment. Erm, I'm not sure these little fellahs would have done much in the way of dirtying cars but I guess one can occasionally get a swarm of some species or other that can dirty up a car by either congregating on it or being in the way (and getting smashed up) when you drive through it. Flies stoppping a game a footie is a new one on me! :-)
zeeox 1 year ago
Rev chapter 9 read it.
gamword 1 year ago
@gamword - No thanks.
zeeox 1 year ago
I recently saw something very similar when driving through Denver a few nights ago...except it was like vertical smoke floating above the tree, and not over water. I thought my eyes were fooling me as it did happen at dusk. Thanks so much for posting!!
GnomeSlayer 2 years ago
You're welcome GnomeSlayer! I've seen some films of vertical columns of flies, especially from the U.S., although only above water so your observation is interesting - and would have spooked me a bit too! Perhaps some types of flies that hatch from the tops of trees rather than water create similar swarms if their numbers are big enough. But I've never seen film of the swirling patterns that I witnessed in this video.
zeeox 2 years ago
Interesting video. I've never seen this type of swarm before. The swarm patterns are strikingly similar to those of birds such as Starlings and schools of fish such as the Sardine.
Thanks for putting it up on the tube.
TK42138 2 years ago
And thank you for your comments. I guess you're right that the swirling is for defense... and I am assuming it is against birds because it happened in winter, when there weren't many other insects about. It also reminded me of film I've seen of small, 'rope' tornadoes that sometimes form in storms!.
zeeox 2 years ago
how do insects benefit from such behaviour??
385181 2 years ago
Swarming behaviour is either a defensive action to reduce chances of a predator attack or breeding behaviour where a colony reaches a certain size and the queen has to mate. Bees, wasps and ants all swarm to breed and start new colonies but I've never seen midges do this. It could be related to the fumes/CO2/ warmth given off by the treatment works or heat being given off by the trees. Biting midges, gnats and mosquitos are often attracted to body heat and CO2 from exhaled breath.
TK42138 2 years ago
P.S. I have since learnt that the 'winter midge' likes to swarm above lakes like Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland so this is likely the same or similar species. But, they tend to do it in just vertical funnels or columns by the looks of things. I have yet to see film or photos of the strange angled swirling displayed here. Also, this was not over open water, and a little away fron the sewer works themselves. It was just next to a cycle bridge behind the dual carriageway bypass!
zeeox 3 years ago