What makes the Balaton evenings bitter? 🦟

Around Lake Balaton, many have experienced in recent weeks that summer evenings are increasingly disturbed by the mass appearance of non-biting midges. These tiny insects are present in significant numbers in several basins of the lake, causing particular inconvenience in the lakeside settlements after sunset.

According to the summary issued by the Balaton Limnological Research Institute on August 20, the rapid development of the generation that started in July was aided by favorable weather and the algal mass. As a result, most of the larvae swarmed already in the first half of August, but approximately 750 individuals per square meter can still be found in the sediment of the Siófoki-, Szigligeti- and Keszthelyi-medence. In the next two weeks, further significant swarming can be expected in these areas, especially on calm, warm evenings 🦟.

The situation is temporarily more favorable in the central section of the lake, where swarming may be more moderate for now. At the same time, a new, very populous generation has begun to develop here, with nearly 4000 individuals per square meter. Whether this swarming will occur this year or only next summer largely depends on the September weather.

Therefore, Balaton holidaymakers and locals should keep an eye on the evening weather, as the phenomenon may be particularly disturbing near the Siófoki-medence in the near future. Researchers are continuously monitoring the process to provide more accurate forecasts for the lakeside settlements.

Source: idokep.hu