Plague of Mosquitoes With Parasites Swarming as Tourists Take Cover

It was cloudy with a chance of mosquito balls.

Tourists in Russia discovered that Mother Nature had apparently switched the local weather forecast from “partly sunny” to “100% mosquitoes” after a biblical swarm of bloodsuckers turned the skies over Lake Shchuchye black.

The visitors had traveled to the picturesque lake in the Buryatia region expecting scenic views, peaceful waters, and perhaps a few vacation photos. Instead, they found themselves reenacting scenes from a low-budget horror movie titled Attack of the Flying Needles.

Witnesses said the insects were so numerous they resembled a plague of locusts. Others described the experience as standing inside a living, buzzing rain cloud that was extremely interested in their blood type.

In a desperate attempt to avoid being drained like discount Capri Suns, the tourists retreated to their vehicles and waited for the airborne invasion force to move on.

It didn’t.

After spending an uncomfortable amount of time watching mosquitoes bounce off their windshields like tiny kamikaze pilots, the visitors finally abandoned the trip altogether and left without ever reaching the lake.

The footage triggered horrified reactions online.

“This year there are a lot of mosquitoes everywhere, but I’ve never seen anything like this before,” wrote one commenter.

“Terrible — like locusts,” said another.

A third offered technical advice, suggesting the travelers should simply “fix the antenna,” apparently under the impression that the swarm was being received through satellite television.

Entomologists say the mosquito population explosion is expected to continue through next week, which is welcome news only if you’re a mosquito.

Authorities are advising residents and visitors to wear protective clothing and insect repellent. Experts also noted that some studies suggest DEET may not always be the miracle solution people think it is, though most travelers seemed ready to bathe in motor oil if it would keep the bugs away.

Unfortunately, the swarms are more than just an itchy annoyance. Parts of Russia have also reported cases of dirofilariasis, a mosquito-borne disease caused by parasitic roundworms. The insects acquire the parasites from infected dogs and cats and can occasionally pass them on to humans, resulting in a medical condition that nobody wants to Google before bedtime.

The silver lining? At least the tourists got a memorable vacation story.

The bad news?

The mosquitoes probably tell the same story every year.