Residents Plagued By Mysterious Midges

Credit: Hardwarezone Forums


Credit: Hardwarezone Forums

SINGAPORE : Bedok Reservoir residents have been plagued by a swarm of green flies for the past week.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said they are midges, which look like mosquitoes, but they do not bite or carry diseases.

Millions of midges are landing everywhere in the area. They are attracted to lights from the HDB flats and are a nuisance.

The NEA said the sudden boom in the midge population may be caused by a change in weather and an imbalance of the ecosystem.

Many of the higher floor units were not spared as the insects are carried by the wind into residents' homes.

Foreign Minister and MP for the area, George Yeo, who inspected the area on Tuesday afternoon, said the Aljunied Town Council are spraying safe pesticides along the mud banks where they breed.

Residents have been advised to keep their windows closed as pest control personnel attempt to reduce the midge population.

Mr George Yeo, Foreign Minister and Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC, said: "So they've got a biological agent which is completely safe - it's actually a good bacteria called BTI which they put into the water, on the reservoir fringe.

"They are going to spray it on the void decks and various floors of the HDB flats to try to contain the problem."

Tia Siew Hian, a resident at Block 710 Bedok Reservoir, said: "One bundle came like that and are attracted to the lights so mostly we cannot open the windows. Once we open the windows, all (the insects) will come in. It's very irritating because it goes to your nose and ears and eyes."

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