A Bridge In Illinois Was Covered In A Six-Inch Layer Of Bugs

If - like me - you have a completely rational fear of insects, the image above will likely send a shiver down your spine. Unfortunately, the background info will probably make you feel even worse.

The pictures were published by the Havana (no, not the one in Cuba) Police Department on Facebook yesterday, and show a local bridge which has been invested with swarms of mayflies. Ready for the really creepy bit? Havana Police states that: “At one point they had piled six inches high.” Yep, a six-inch layer of bugs.

Mayflies aren’t dangerous individually, but the vast numbers have been causing serious problems on the bridge where icky ‘slicks’ of crushed bugs have been forming, stranding cars and causing motorbike crashes.

Our first thought would be to burn down the whole bridge immediately, but the mayflies won’t be around for long - their lifespan is only a few days long. We don’t envy whoever has the job of cleaning up the mess left behind though.

It’s also important to note this is apparently nothing out of the ordinary - locals have to deal with vast numbers of the insects for a short period each year during mating season.

Source: Havana Police Department via Huffington Post