Several sightings of midges have been spotted in houses in the Bedok Reservoir area today (Jan 1) as reported by a few STOMPers. According to a STOMPer, the flies were already sighted in the area as early as a month ago.
The STOMPer wrote:
"It's the midges problem in the Bedok Reservoir area again.
"I first encountered them in early December and it has been ongoing till now.
"Calls made to the NEA and other relevant authorities like my town council from then only resulted in a fumigation exercise that will take place only next week.
"I'm disappointed and angered by the lack of action from the authorities despite me already warning them earlier."
STOMPer Sen Neo wrote:
"The flies that came out from Bedok Reservoir last year are back again.
"We already saw a lot of them at the reservoir yesterday (Dec 31). They have now appeared in my HDB flat around Bedok Reservoir area today (Jan 1)."
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they come in the night to fly around your lights, and then drop dead in a heap for you to sweep the visible ones....
the ones that die behind and on top of your cabinets and are unreachable, accumulate and enable fungus to grow, otherwise they become food for other insects.
and as they decompose, the dust of their remains together with the fugal spores,
are floating in the atmosphere within your apartment,
and as you breath in the night,
every inhale...... inhale..... inhale........
Midges aren't mere harmless irritants.
At least 20% of people are allergic to midges. Airborne allergens from flying midges are an important cause of asthma, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, etc. Midge larvae (live/ dried) can cause allergenic reactions like rash & respiratory distress. Midge allergy also exhibits cross-sensitivity with prawn & Aedes mozzie allergies.
The gelatinous egg-masses of midges are a natural reservoir for pathogenic bacteria such as V. cholerae (cholera) & several Aeromonas spp. (gastroenteritis). Research shows that bacterial populations in the water peak 1 month after midge populations peak during warm weather.
Such pathogenic bacteria have also been found on midge larvae exuvia (moult) floating on water, & on the bodies of flying adults. The latter are mechanical vectors transmitting aquatic bacteria between waterbodies, & possibly transmitting the bacteria to humans as well during swarming.
Research shows that midge populations peak when water temp. is ~25 degC. The egg-masses are deposited within clayey/organic substrates along the banks/waterline & other spots where aquatic plants are used; or attached to underwater rocks & structural footings that are coated with organic-debris scum.
It is common to find midges in freshwater habitats, & in a healthy ecosystem, midge populations are controlled by natural predators (eg. bats, dragonflies, swallows, small fishes).
On the other hand, it is susceptible sites lacking in natural predators that are prone to midge population explosions & infestations. Such sites include deforested urban areas with ecologically-sterile/ artificial waterbodies dominated by alien fauna species.
And of course, it doesn't help when humans deliberately introduce landscaping factors & habitats that favour midge breeding.