Annual invasion of lake flies over Lake Winnebago captured on weather radar

Ah, the sweet taste of summer.
By
Petrana Radulovic
 on 

It's finally spring, which means warmer weather, longer days, and if you're in the Lake Winnebago region, massive swarms of freshly hatched lake flies.

This is a regular occurrence in the area, but this year's swarm was large enough to pop up on the Fox 11 weather radar, as shared by the KOKH Fox 25's Twitter account.

That is an unholy amount of flies.

According to Fox 11, the flies are a very vital part of the lake's ecosystem. They have a very short lifespan, living only a few days to mate before they die. They don't bite and are more of an annoyance than a serious harm.

Mashable Light Speed
Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories?
Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter.
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!

That doesn't stop people from gawking at the sheer amount of flies buzzing around.

View this post on Instagram

The intense amount of flies seems like something out of a Midwestern Gothic arthouse film. Just look at them buzz ominously.

View this post on Instagram

But for Lake Winnebago residents, these flies are a sure sign that summer is on the way.

View this post on Instagram

It's an eerily beautiful juxtaposition, the setting sun and the swarms of ephemeral flies. Poetic almost. The flies have short lives, just as our halcyon summers are fleeting.

View this post on Instagram

Just don't open your mouth too much when you appreciate the buzz.

Mashable Image
Petrana Radulovic

Petrana Radulovic was a web culture fellow here at Mashable. She enjoys exploring the growing intersection of story-telling and digital spaces, hanging out in book shops and art museums, and the tasteful meme. Follow her on Twitter at @pet_rana for #relatable content.


Recommended For You

The weather app that saves BBQs, outfits, and beach days
Weather Hi-Def Radar Storm Watch app on phone screen


How to watch Herediano vs. Real Salt Lake online for free
Justen Glad of Real Salt Lake drives the ball

How to watch Real Salt Lake vs. Herediano online for free
Diego Luna of Real Salt Lake looks on

More in Science
How to watch Tigres UANL vs. Cruz Azul online for free
Team of Tigres pose during the 16th round match

How to watch Getafe vs. Real Madrid online for free
Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid reacts

How to watch NBA live streams online for free
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers

How to watch the 2025 Giro d’Italia online for free
A general view of the peloton competing close to The Colosseum

How to watch the 2025 Madrid Open online for free
Aryna Sabalenka plays a backhand

Trending on Mashable
Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 23, 2025
Wordle game on a smartphone

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 23, 2025
Connections game on a smartphone

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 23
A game being played on a smartphone.


Nintendo Switch 2 preorder retailer guide: Best Buy, Gamestop, Walmart, and Amazon
Nintendo Switch 2 behind glass display case
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!