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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/massive-mayfly-swarm-causes-crashes-and-closes-a-bridge-in-pennsylvania-10320319.html
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| Massive mayfly 'blizzard' causes crashes and closes a bridge in Pennsylvania | Massive mayfly 'blizzard' causes crashes and closes a bridge in Pennsylvania |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A massive swarm of mayflies was so dense that it caused motorcycle crashes and forced the closure of a bridge in the US state of Pennsylvania over the weekend. | |
| The LancasterOnline newspaper reported how thousands of the bugs swarmed around the lights on the bridge - over the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County - and then fell to the ground, forming piles of up to two-feet deep. | The LancasterOnline newspaper reported how thousands of the bugs swarmed around the lights on the bridge - over the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County - and then fell to the ground, forming piles of up to two-feet deep. |
| Wrightsville Fire Department Fire Chief, Chad Livelsberger, described how the phenomenon was like “a blizzard in June.” He added: “But, instead of snow, it was mayflies. | Wrightsville Fire Department Fire Chief, Chad Livelsberger, described how the phenomenon was like “a blizzard in June.” He added: “But, instead of snow, it was mayflies. |
| Watch the video: | Watch the video: |
| “The black mayflies are close to two-inches long and a quarter-inch wide. It looks like a meal worm with wings.” | “The black mayflies are close to two-inches long and a quarter-inch wide. It looks like a meal worm with wings.” |
| The fire chief also spoke about the complications the crew faced while tending to the crashed cycles: “They [the mayflies] were getting in our mouth. We had to close our eyes. We had to swat them away. Even when we got back, it felt like bugs were crawling in you.” | The fire chief also spoke about the complications the crew faced while tending to the crashed cycles: “They [the mayflies] were getting in our mouth. We had to close our eyes. We had to swat them away. Even when we got back, it felt like bugs were crawling in you.” |
| Young mayflies live in water before hatching as adults to mate in swarms. | Young mayflies live in water before hatching as adults to mate in swarms. |
| It was a slippery & smelly situation on the 462 bridge over the weekend @KaraDuffyFox43 is braving the smell this AM! http://t.co/CNsfsuc5fV | It was a slippery & smelly situation on the 462 bridge over the weekend @KaraDuffyFox43 is braving the smell this AM! http://t.co/CNsfsuc5fV |
| Leftovers of a mayfly swarm on a bridge in our area. Caused bridge closure and 3 motorcycle accidents. Yuk! pic.twitter.com/QN1CCOntuI | Leftovers of a mayfly swarm on a bridge in our area. Caused bridge closure and 3 motorcycle accidents. Yuk! pic.twitter.com/QN1CCOntuI |
| By golly, that's a lot of mayflies. http://t.co/ukNY7U98GW @BrettSholtis pic.twitter.com/bu0NFXe1hn | By golly, that's a lot of mayflies. http://t.co/ukNY7U98GW @BrettSholtis pic.twitter.com/bu0NFXe1hn |
| Details of the crash victims were not made immediately available, however, the bridge was reopened sometime before 6am yesterday while the local authorities dispatched street sweepers to begin the clean-up operation. | Details of the crash victims were not made immediately available, however, the bridge was reopened sometime before 6am yesterday while the local authorities dispatched street sweepers to begin the clean-up operation. |
| Swarms of mayflies, like this one, are not uncommon: last year, one in Wisconsin was so big that it appeared on local radar as rain. | Swarms of mayflies, like this one, are not uncommon: last year, one in Wisconsin was so big that it appeared on local radar as rain. |