BUFFALO, N.Y. -- NFTA Worker Jim Barry had a less-than-pleasant experience with the pesky insect known as a ‘midge’ Thursday morning.
"They pretty much came out of nowhere. It was calm, cool, and collected, and in five seconds, they attacked me," said Barry. "They're all over the place."
Spectrum News Meteorologist Dan Russell says it's not unusual for the pesky insect to show up this time of year; however, after an unusually wet spring, the population has exploded.
"We did have one of the wettest springs in recorded history across Western New York and with them being a waterborne insect, an abundance of water typically means you can have more waterborne insects," said Russell.
While the midge may be a nuisance for your car, for your clothing, for your house, or for your sanity, there is a silver lining. It's good for fishing.
"There’s a huge benefit from midges, and I know the fisherman are going to love hearing this, because midges are actually one of the biggest food supply for a lot of the fish in Lake Erie, and with a banner crop already of walleye and perch, that's only going to help out in that department," said Russell.
However, if these pesky little insects are still getting on anyone’s last nerve, just know they only live about seven to 10 days.