Gnat, aphid, pest. Who knew such short words could cause a nuisance that affects the entire Midwest? The swarms of small, flying insects invading the personal space of the majority of the Creighton community is the result of a cool, wet summer and temperate fall.

“As an entomologist, this spectacle is fascinating,” said Dr. Ted Burk, Professor of Biology, “But otherwise the swarms are just a nuisance.”

Officially, the bugs are aphids, also known as “plant lice,” and known for sucking plant juices and transforming gardens into nothing more than holey messes. Harmless to humans, aphids’ unique reproduction cycle is the cause of the recent boom in population.

The eggs survive winter and then hatch as wingless females who reproduce asexually until early fall. In the early fall, in order to obtain new gene combinations, the females begin to produce winged males and females, who then disperse and mate. And that is presently where the Midwest finds itself.

“I was walking to dinner and felt like a bug cloud was following me,” said Roy Norris, Arts & Sciences junior, “At first, I thought it was because of the sewer separation on Cuming Street and sewage on the street had caused the infestation.”

With over 4,400 species of aphids, the main culprit this year is the soybean aphid, brought from China to the United States approximately ten years ago.

“There is reason to hope that this kind of swarming will not last more than a few years, since invasive species start to become controlled by diseases and native species after a certain amount of time,” Burk said.

Harmless to humans, aphids do not bite nor carry diseases transmittable to humans. They tend to congregate around trees and bushes and although they are able to fly, their main means of movement is wind dispersal.

Despite the annoyance of many students, the swarms have been even worse in other parts of the Midwest. For example, Illinois and Iowa has been experiencing a more extreme swarms, as aphids coat vehicles, buildings, bicycles, and people.

To prevent such large swarms are nearly impossible, as the boom is almost entirely dependent on the climate and nutritional value of plants. When plants grow and multiply, so do the aphids. Spraying insecticides or soap may be only a temporary solution because the aphids’ reproduction capabilities.

How to avoid them? Though nearly impossible, Dr. Burk recommends avoiding lighter clothing, since aphids are attracted to brightness.