Tuscany's Orbetello Battles Bug Swarm as Tourism Season Looms

A picturesque town in Tuscany, Italy, is under siege—by bugs. Swarms of midges have taken over Orbetello, a coastal town known for its idyllic beaches and lagoon, sparking an emergency response just as the tourist season approaches.

These tiny flies, harmless but undeniably annoying, have turned the area into a scene straight out of a Hitchcock movie. Midges, often mistaken for mosquitoes, are infamous for their air-dancing swarms, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. Not exactly the kind of performance tourists were hoping for.

Local fishermen believe the infestation began about three weeks ago and blame it on fish "die-offs." Juvenile fish, or fry, died last year due to oxygen depletion in the lagoon, creating a feast for midge larvae. It’s like a buffet no one asked for but nature enthusiastically provided.

Orbetello, a thin strip of land shaped like an almond and bordered by the sea, is usually a tranquil getaway. But now, the town is scrambling to save its summer season. Officials have formed a permanent commission and are implementing emergency measures to fight the swarms. Mayor Andrea Casamenti assured residents and business owners that they are working to "protect citizens and economic activities in the area."

Pier Luigi Piro, the president of the local fishermen's cooperative, shared his concerns: "Everything we’re doing, we hope to have a serene tourist season. Otherwise, beyond the damage, a lot of activities will risk closure." Translation: no bugs, no tourists, no money.

As the town battles this natural but unwelcome invasion, one thing’s for sure—this isn’t the kind of buzz Orbetello wanted to generate this summer.