Growing bug swarm in Tuscany threatens tourism ahead of vacation season

• The seaside town of Orbetello in Tuscany is battling a significant midge infestation that began in February. The swarms are disrupting daily life and creating concerns for local businesses ahead of peak tourism season.
• Residents are forced to stay indoors, with closures like the main post office highlighting the severity of the situation.
• Local officials have allocated €300,000 (about $327,000) to an emergency intervention plan and established a commission to address the crisis.

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Millions of travelers are preparing to pack their bags for spring and summer vacations. But in one Italian beach town, residents are dealing with an unexpected swarm—and it’s not tourists, but bugs. 

A growing midge infestation in Tuscany has taken over the seaside town of Orbetello, The Associated Press reports. Swarms of midges—tiny insects that resemble mosquitoes but are mostly harmless—have blanketed parts of the region.

Bug swarms disrupt daily life and tourism

If the term sounds familiar, it might be because of a similar moment back in 2007. A cloud of midges once swarmed a Yankees playoff game, creating a bug invasion so large it appeared on radar, according to The New York Times.

This time, the midge infestation in Tuscany began in early February. Fishermen say it’s the result of a mass die-off of juvenile fish between 2020 and 2024. Those fish served as natural predators of midge larvae, and without them, the bugs have multiplied.

Now, the midges are disrupting everyday life.

The swarms are so dense that residents say they can’t open their windows or enjoy outdoor spaces. Local businesses that rely on tourism are worried, especially as the spring travel season ramps up.

One Italian outlet reports that the town’s main post office had to close due to what it called “natural disasters.” The same outlet noted a similar bug invasion last summer.

Orbetello declares emergency amid growing concern

As the midge infestation in Tuscany intensifies, locals are calling for urgent action.

A Change.org petition has gathered more than 20,000 verified signatures. Residents describe themselves as “locked up at home like in the times of Covid.” The petition even warns that dead midges may attract spiders, which could then grow to abnormal sizes after feeding.

On Thursday, Orbetello’s city hall announced an emergency response.

Officials pledged €300,000 (about $327,000) toward what they called an “immediate and unprecedented intervention plan” for disinfestation. A permanent commission has also been established to monitor and respond to the crisis.

It remains to be seen whether the efforts can curb the midge infestation in Tuscany before peak tourist season. But for now, the town is buzzing—and not in a good way.