They’re conquering Queens, and subjugating its residents by forcing the people into their homes. Mosquitoes, wasps, and jumping spiders are some of the new bugs invading northern Flushing, agitating residents, and threatening the freedom of the people.
Starting in the summer of 2013, trucks have been periodically driving around the neighborhood, warning people to stay inside their houses as a pesticide is sprayed to prevent the population rate of bugs in the neighborhood from rising. Even so, this summer, there has been an influx of new and more aggressive bugs. Harder to kill and more annoying to the human residents of the area, these insects are scaring the people in the area and have them questioning the purpose of the pesticide sprayings in the neighborhood.
The Asian Tiger mosquito is among one of the many new bugs in the area the pesticide spray is targeted to kill. While it has been found that these new mosquitos do not carry the West Nile Virus, these pests are still annoying. Resistant to mosquito spray and citronella candles, the new mosquitos are a bother to both parents and children alike.
“My kids complained that the mosquitoes were biting them even when I sent them out in jeans! If they’re resistant to bug sprays and citronella and the pesticides aren’t working, how are my kids supposed to play outside?” Christine Lew, a mother of two in Flushing, argued.
Unable to play outside, Lew’s children now have to find new ways to entertain themselves while Lew is left to worry about the danger of these aggressive new bugs. According the NY Daily News, a larvicide was sprayed in the area to prevent population growth of the mosquitoes in a gradual change. The larvicide has been sprayed in the different neighborhoods in Queens since June and will continue to be sprayed throughout August according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene website.
New to the neighborhood, but a relatively ordinary species, wasps have also migrated into the region. While bees are to be expected, these larger pests have come into Queens and can be considered a league of their own. They can sting a person multiple times, unlike a bee, and stings are quite painful.
Christina Young, a commuter from Flushing, complains, “When I go to leave my house, I have to run to my bus stop out of fear of these wasps.”
She explains that her cat has even been stung by the wasps and is afraid of leaving the house at times. Young explained that the wasps are difficult to exterminate using sprays and powders found in the stores, but hiring an exterminator is too expensive for her family to afford. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene website, wasps and bees are to be taken care of by homeowners and not the city. So, unfortunately for Young, the only painless option is to stay indoors and hope they will go away on their own.
Jumping spiders are scaring people around the neighborhood as well. Hard to kill, as they are able to jump great distances, these small black spiders have begun to infest homes in Queens. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, the bugs jump to catch their prey, but these bugs also jump to avoid death.
Kevin Leung, a Flushing resident of 15 years, explained his annoyance of these eight-legged bugs, “My sisters always scream for me to kill these bugs since they can’t get them, it’s frustrating.”