Mayflies lead to three car accidents

National Weather Service in La Crosse detected a swarm of mayflies last Sunday, which was so massive that it was detected on the radar. Swarm of these flies led to three car accidents in the city leaving two persons injured.

Officers reported the huge swarm of mayflies was emerging from the Mississippi River and was heading towards north due to the flow of wind. Dan Baumgardt, Science and Operations Officer for the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wisconsin, said, "Almost every night in the summer, there's some sense on the radar that there's something coming off the river".

Mayflies emerge from river during the summers and shed their exoskeletons. Within 36 hours of their emergence, they grow and fly in large swarm to mate. Later, the female mayflies return to the water surface to lay eggs and die thereafter.

These flies get attracted to light which is the major reason why they come in gigantic swarms towards city. Millions of these flies get crushed under the cars. These flies leave behind a slippery green colored liquid. This liquid is so slippery that it can easily make a vehicle slip over it.

Three car accidents were reported last Sunday. According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, a car lost control on the road when millions of insects made the road invisible. The car then hit two vehicles one after the other. Two people were injured in the accident and were taken to Mayo Hospital in Red Wing for treatment.

Every year, the National Weather Service detects numerous flocks of flies between June and August. Mayflies are very sensitive to the pollutants. According to Mark Steingraeber, a biologist at U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, mayflies are the indicators of the quality of water, which shows water in Mississippi River is still in a good condition.