Locals terrified as swarms of midges invade Lake Balaton, unleashing giant spiders – VIDEOS

Thankfully, these aren’t biting mosquitoes but non-biting midges — though there are so many of them that holding a conversation after sunset along certain parts of the lakefront is nearly impossible. In a matter of seconds, they can end up in your mouth. Locals blame climate change and global warming, but regardless of the cause, many find the situation unbearable — some have even considered moving because of it.

Locals wading through midges on southern shore of Lake Balaton

A massive swarm of non-biting midges has taken over the southern shore of Lake Balaton, especially around Siófok, one of Hungary’s most popular lakeside resorts. According to residents, the insects crunch under car tires and walking along the lake in the late afternoon or early evening is nearly impossible — shoes get sticky from the sheer number of squashed bugs. While these midges don’t bite, they appear in such vast numbers that it’s hard to be outdoors during their swarming periods — sometimes even during the day.

Blikk’s on-site report includes shocking images, which we can’t publish due to copyright restrictions, but you may check out in their article. The pictures clearly show how thickly the midges cover window panes and gather around nearly every light source at night, making it hard for both residents and tourists to enjoy peaceful evenings by the lake. One local said that a month ago, the swarm was so dense, walking along the shore felt like stepping into a pulsating mass of live insects — something they hadn’t experienced in at least 20 years. Another resident confirmed there was a similar infestation last year, but nowhere near this scale.