Mayfly Magic Time

Every once in awhile, you have that time when something special goes on in your town.  It may be a festival, or a parade, or a block party.  And while we do have all those things in Kittanning, the most special time of all, each summer, is when the annual mayfly invasion occurs.  These gross little things invade our town each year, courtesy of the mighty Allegheny River.

I snuck into town just now to document the beginning of the mayfly invasion.  Due to the short lifespan of the insect, the infestation usually only lasts a couple of days.  They should be gone by the weekend.  One helpful townie saw me taking pictures, and told me that the mayflies crawl up out of the river, once they have consumed all the poisons and toxins from the water.  So, there is that. This is just the beginning. I guarantee by nightfall, this window will be one moving, swarming mass of mayflies. We usually have to close the bridge in town because the surface gets to slippery from mayfly guts to safely allow vehicle to cross it. Nasty.

So, all you other Pittsburgh suburbs can keep your fancy carnivals and church festivals, your parades and your band bashes.  Kittanning has mayflies.  It's ok to be jealous.