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South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Plague of flying pests adds to Osaka World Expo's woes in Japan
Japan 's 2025 World Expo in Osaka has been bugged by a string of mishaps since its opening in mid-April – the latest being a plague of mosquito-like insects known as midges. Swarms of these insects have been attracted to the wooden walls and pillars of the 'Grand Ring', a centrepiece of the expo and its main thoroughfare. Visitors have been forced to fend the flying insects off to avoid swallowing or inhaling them, raising concerns about potential health risks. 'They landed on the bread I was eating. There are so many of them around and it's disgusting,' said Toma Masatani, a 23-year-old graduate school student visiting the expo with friends from Saitama, near Tokyo, as quoted by Kyodo news agency. Expo organisers have identified the insects as chironomids, a species that does not bite or suck blood, according to The Japan News. However, their dead bodies can pose a health hazard: inhaling or ingesting them can trigger asthma and other allergic reactions. 'Wearing a face mask is advisable for those with asthma,' said Koichiro Kawai, a professor emeritus at Hiroshima University specialising in the species, in an interview with Kyodo. Experts predict the infestation will persist until late autumn. The bugs are believed to have spawned in the Water Plaza, a large seawater storage area on the expo grounds, which is built on reclaimed land over a former landfill.
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Swarming insects causing distress at Osaka World Expo
While they pose no threat, dead midges can cause asthma and other allergic reactions if inhaled. PHOTO: EPA-EFE OSAKA - Swarms of midges have become a headache at the Osaka World Expo, causing visitors to cringe and raising concerns about possible health issues. The small flies have been found on walls and the pillars of the wooden Grand Ring encircling many of the pavilions, with people forced to fight them off to avoid swallowing them. 'It shocked me when they landed on the bread I was eating. There are so many of them around and it's disgusting,' said Mr Toma Masatani, a 23-year-old graduate school student visiting the expo with friends from Saitama, near Tokyo. While the midges at the expo do not bite, dead ones can cause asthma and other allergic reactions if inhaled. 'Wearing a face mask is advisable for those with asthma,' said Professor Koichiro Kawai, a professor emeritus at Hiroshima University specialising in the species. He added that electronic insect killers and insecticides are effective in getting rid of them. The insects are believed to be emerging from the Water Plaza in the southern part of the venue, where seawater is stored. Noting they are possibly of marine origin, Prof Kawai said they could persist until the end of autumn. The expo organiser is taking action, spraying insecticide in locations where the midges are spotted, treating areas where rainwater tends to accumulate with a growth inhibitor and installing insect repellent lights. Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura has also sought cooperation from insecticide maker Earth Corp to counter the midges. KYODO NEWS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Japan Today
25-05-2025
- Science
- Japan Today
Swarming insects causing distress at Osaka Expo
Swarming midges appear near an elevator at the Grand Ring, a major attraction at the World Exposition on the Yumeshima artificial island in Osaka, on May 21. Swarms of midges have become a headache at the World Exposition in Osaka, causing visitors to cringe and raising concerns about possible health issues. The small flies have been found on walls and the pillars of the wooden Grand Ring encircling many of the pavilions, with people forced to fight them off to avoid swallowing them. "It shocked me when they landed on the bread I was eating. There are so many of them around and it's disgusting," said Toma Masatani, a 23-year-old graduate school student visiting the expo with friends from Saitama. While the midges at the expo do not bite, dead ones can cause asthma and other allergic reactions if inhaled. "Wearing a face mask is advisable for those with asthma," said Koichiro Kawai, a professor emeritus at Hiroshima University specializing in the species. He added that electronic insect killers and insecticides are effective in getting rid of them. The insects are believed to be emerging from the Water Plaza in the southern part of the venue, where seawater is stored. Noting they are possibly of marine origin, Kawai said they could persist until the end of autumn. The expo organizer is taking action, spraying insecticide in locations where the midges are spotted, treating areas where rainwater tends to accumulate with a growth inhibitor and installing insect repellent lights. Osaka Gov Hirofumi Yoshimura has also sought cooperation from insecticide maker Earth Corp to counter the midges. "We will fulfill our role of contributing to the expo's success by utilizing the knowledge and technology we have cultivated," the company said. © KYODO
The Mainichi
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Mainichi
Swarming insects causing distress at World Exposition in Osaka
OSAKA (Kyodo) -- Swarms of midges have become a headache at the World Exposition in Osaka, causing visitors to cringe and raising concerns about possible health issues. The small flies have been found on walls and the pillars of the wooden Grand Ring encircling many of the pavilions, with people forced to fight them off to avoid swallowing them. "It shocked me when they landed on the bread I was eating. There are so many of them around and it's disgusting," said Toma Masatani, a 23-year-old graduate school student visiting the expo with friends from Saitama, near Tokyo. While the midges at the expo do not bite, dead ones can cause asthma and other allergic reactions if inhaled. "Wearing a face mask is advisable for those with asthma," said Koichiro Kawai, a professor emeritus at Hiroshima University specializing in the species. He added that electronic insect killers and insecticides are effective in getting rid of them. The insects are believed to be emerging from the Water Plaza in the southern part of the venue, where seawater is stored. Noting they are possibly of marine origin, Kawai said they could persist until the end of autumn. The expo organizer is taking action, spraying insecticide in locations where the midges are spotted, treating areas where rainwater tends to accumulate with a growth inhibitor and installing insect repellent lights. Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura has also sought cooperation from insecticide maker Earth Corp. to counter the midges. "We will fulfill our role of contributing to the expo's success by utilizing the knowledge and technology we have cultivated," the company said.
Kyodo News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Kyodo News
Swarming insects causing distress at World Exposition in Osaka
KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 09:41 | Arts, All, Japan, Expo Swarms of midges have become a headache at the World Exposition in Osaka, causing visitors to cringe and raising concerns about possible health issues. The small flies have been found on walls and the pillars of the wooden Grand Ring encircling many of the pavilions, with people forced to fight them off to avoid swallowing them. "It shocked me when they landed on the bread I was eating. There are so many of them around and it's disgusting," said Toma Masatani, a 23-year-old graduate school student visiting the expo with friends from Saitama, near Tokyo. While the midges at the expo do not bite, dead ones can cause asthma and other allergic reactions if inhaled. "Wearing a face mask is advisable for those with asthma," said Koichiro Kawai, a professor emeritus at Hiroshima University specializing in the species. He added that electronic insect killers and insecticides are effective in getting rid of them. The insects are believed to be emerging from the Water Plaza in the southern part of the venue, where seawater is stored. Noting they are possibly of marine origin, Kawai said they could persist until the end of autumn. The expo organizer is taking action, spraying insecticide in locations where the midges are spotted, treating areas where rainwater tends to accumulate with a growth inhibitor and installing insect repellent lights. Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura has also sought cooperation from insecticide maker Earth Corp. to counter the midges. "We will fulfill our role of contributing to the expo's success by utilizing the knowledge and technology we have cultivated," the company said. Related coverage: Meet Pokémon GO Characters at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan! Baltic Pavilion calls for return of stolen Osaka expo mascot figure Int'l body promoting next-generation fusion energy joins Osaka expo
