Swarming insects causing distress at Osaka World Expo

OSAKA - Swarms of midges have become a headache at the Osaka World Expo, disturbing visitors and raising concerns about possible health issues.

The small flies have been found on walls and pillars of the wooden Grand Ring encircling many of the pavilions, with people forced to fight them off to avoid swallowing them.

“It shocked me when they landed on the bread I was eating. There are so many of them around and it’s disgusting,” said Mr Toma Masatani, a 23-year-old graduate school student visiting the expo with friends from Saitama, near Tokyo.

While the midges at the expo do not bite, dead ones can cause asthma and other allergic reactions if inhaled.

Professor Koichiro Kawai, a professor emeritus at Hiroshima University who specialises in the species, said: “Wearing a face mask is advisable for those with asthma.”

He added that electronic insect killers and insecticides are effective in getting rid of the tiny creatures.

The insects are believed to originate from the Water Plaza in the southern part of the venue, where seawater is stored. Noting that they are possibly of marine origin, Prof Kawai said the prevalence of the insects could persist until the end of autumn.

The expo organiser is spraying insecticide in locations where the midges have been spotted, treating areas where rainwater tends to accumulate with a growth inhibitor, and installing insect repellent lights.

Osaka governor Hirofumi Yoshimura has also sought help from insecticide maker Earth Corp to counter the midges. KYODO NEWS

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