Burning Man is infested with stinky biting bugs

by Richard Howard

If you’ve ever been to Burning Man, you know attendees need to come to terms with a couple things. Firstly, shit’s going to get weird. Second, you’re going to get hella gross. Dust-caked, reeking of B.O. – but hey, so is everybody else. However, one thing that may come as a surprise is that wildlife and insect problems are practically non-existent – the playa in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert that plays home to Burning Man is nearly devoid of critters.

UNTIL this year.

What you’re looking at is hundreds (or thousands) of bugs having a pre-Burning Man party around a light installation. Turns out the crew preparing the site for the August 30 festival start were greeted by an infestation of smelly, bitey bugs. Props to them, though: Rather than hide the infestation, the Burning Man staff shared the disturbing details on their official blog.

Ignoring the fact that there are people named ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘Stinger’ on the construction crew, one’s first though may be “what the hell kind of bugs are those?” Well, an entomologist took a look at some of the pics and discerned that the big green stinkers are a certain type of stink bug. Beyond their trademark smell, they’re famously attracted to light – so that should be great at a festival awash with light displays, pyrotechnics and, you know, a giant burning man. It gets better though – there are also the little guys in the following image, seen here planning their overthrow of the humans in a week’s time:

These aren’t cute little baby green stink bugs, they’re an entirely different genus. These also emit a foul smell, and as an added bonus, poke their proboscises into your skin in a search for water. Which, as non blood-sucky as it is, still feels like a bite.

I know what you’re saying: “But what about people like us that love the smell of stink bugs and can’t go to sleep without being covered with insect bites?” Oh don’t you fear, we got one for you. It seems that the bugs’ population explosion may have been caused by a huge bloom of invasive mustard plants in nearby California giving them ample food.

Flying over to Nevada full of delicious mustard oil, when crushed (i.e. when you smack the buggers) the oil spreads to your skin, giving you welts and a burning sensation. There is one upside though – now anyone seeing bugs can tell declare that they’re real and avoid having a bad trip.

So… Happy Burning Man!

[h/t Gawker]