Tiny Bugs, Unhealthy Smoke: NYC Air Full Of Creepy Problems

NEW YORK CITY — Good luck breathing, New Yorkers. And try not to inhale a tiny bug.

The city's air quality index Friday morning hit 165, which is officially "unhealthy" for everyone, according to airnow.gov. And if the hazardous Canadian wildfire smoke weren't enough, clouds of creepy bugs filled New York City's air.

Swarms of tiny insects have bedeviled city dwellers from Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn, on subway platforms and across the Hudson in New Jersey.

"Clouds of green gnats are taking over NYC," one New Yorker tweeted, with a video.

"Not once have I ever seen it like this," posted a redditer in a chat devoted to the eerie issue. "It's pretty bad."

And what insects are mounting this irritating invasion?

"They're aphids," said Gil Bloom, an accredited Certified Entomologist with Standard Pest Management in Astoria.

Bloom said green and black aphids are common this time of year. He suspects the bugs probably got caught in a wind pattern that deposited them over New York City.

And, no, the aphids likely aren't connected to the wildfire smoke, he said.

"It's just nature doing what it wants," he said. "It's not a sign of the apocalypse."

"They'll be gone before July Fourth."

Annoying as a lungful of bugs may be, don't forget there's also hazardous wildfire smoke.

"We’re asking people to be very, very vigilant before you plan your outdoor activities," Gov. Kathy Hochul told New Yorkers ahead of the July 4th weekend.

"Know what the numbers are, know the precautions you can take, because otherwise it may seriously have an effect on you."

All New Yorkers should avoid strenuous outdoor activities, according to the air quality index. Officials have encouraged people to wear N95 and KN95 masks and track air quality.

Those in vulnerable groups should avoid exposure to the outdoors, especially pregnant individuals who may become short of breath more easily.

Officials have encouraged people to wear N95 and KN95 masks and track air quality at airnow.gov.

According to the National Weather Service, widespread haze from the wildfire smoke is expected to hover over New York City all Friday.

Patch writer Kathleen Culliton contributed to this report.