Chennai: Parts of Korattur, Ambattur and surrounding areas have, over the past 10 days, been invaded by thousands of insects (yet to identified), causing residents sleepless nights. The bugs have entered most homes and have been found falling dead over food items, open water containers and mattresses. Irked residents complained to the city corporation officials who are trying to identify the mysterious insect belonging to the diptera family.
A team of five corporation employees, led by entomologist A. Samoundeeswari, chief vector control officer, Chennai corporation on Monday were on a morphological exploration at Korattur lake in search of insects invading the houses adjacent to it.
Entomologist allays fears of residents:
The response from the civic body menace comes in the wake of complaints from residents last week, informing that an insect similar to the housefly was rapidly breeding in Korattur and Porur lake areas.
“We have confirmed that the insect is a non vector and poses no danger to residents. The samples have been collected and sent to the Entomology Research Institute at Loyola College for further action,” said A Somoundeswari entomologist, chief vector control officer, Chennai Corporation. “We will also introduce the gambussia fish, a good predator on insect larvae, to arrest the breeding. We will use fumigation to handle the adult insects,” she added.
“It’s an irritating feeling to see insects hovering in the kitchen. Though they do not bite, a foul smell emanates when these insects invade the house,” said local resident J. Sreedharan of Korattur Sreenivasapuram.
“We are waiting for the morphological report, based on which the insecticide will be altered,” said local sanitary officer Sathish Kumar.
“We initially thought the insect was the Chironomus, an insect similar to the housefly, but we are yet to confirm its species. We are also collecting larvae samples to look into the breeding of other insects and mosquitoes in the area,” said Corporation sanitary inspector Eswaran.
“Going by the pictures of the insects, it resembles a gnat, an insect active during twilight,” said entomologist K Sankariah, assistant professor in zoology, Kanchee Mamunivar Centre for PG studies, Pondicherry.
“They breed fast in urban vegetation as there is no massive predator threat for them. Such insects come with a life span of three to four weeks and after the rains, their habitat and breeding will be arrested. So there is nothing to panic,” the professor added.
