A Blizzard of Bugs in Dubuque

By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Jul 2, 2009 at 11:25 AM CST

Story Updated: Jul 2, 2009 at 12:03 PM CST

DUBUQUE - People in downtown Dubuque spent Thursday morning cleaning up the bodies of dead flies.

The Mayflies, or fish flies as they're known in Dubuque, swarmed the downtown area near the Mississippi River Wednesday night.

Workers at the Diamond Jo Casino used leaf blowers to clear the parking lot.

The Iowa DNR says the Mayfly nymphs live in the river before turning into adults. Once out of the river, the flies live for only 2-72 hours. They do not eat, they only mate, lay eggs and die.

The blizzard of bugs happens every year in Dubuque and it indicates the river is healthy and clean.

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