It's a crane fly swarm
News 2's Jerry Barlar talked to Dr. Hale about all these crane flies you see swarming your yard. You probably first learned about them at the blog This Is La Vergne where author Kathy Tyson inspired a spirited discussion with the locals about the insects.
This is what's so cool about hyper-local blogs. I knew they were swarming my yard, but I had no idea it was happening in La Vergne, too. Come to find out, they are all over Middle Tennessee.
Dr. Hale says they just "hang out" in the yard. No they don't. They have sex all over the place and have no regard for a good steak sandwich.
Dr. Frank Hale, a professor of entomology at the University of Tennessee, said the wet, damn spring the area has had has created favorable conditions for the flies.
While a nuisance, Dr. Hale said it is important to remember crane flies don't bite or sting and other than the occasional one flying into your house, they normally hang out in the yard.
"That's the nuisance thing," said Dr. Hale, "...But as far as really hurting anything... Just pick them up and throw them outside."
Correction
Not sure why my comment was deleted by the evil NIT bots, but jsut wanted to thank you for pointing that out! THe morning producer fixed it to read "damp," not "damn." While a nuisance, Dr. Hale is an outstanding entomologist. ;)
wet damn spring
Congratulations to Dr. Hale for pointing out what a damn wet spring it's been. That makes it all the more bewildering why, in the second paragraph, the reporter called Dr. Hale a nuisance.