LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A Las Vegas family says their yard and driveway near Rainbow Boulevard and Alta Drive have been taken over by millions of bugs and expert says the wet winter and early summer-like heat are to blame.
The Vega family provided 13 Investigates video of millions of critters crawling over their yard.
"They are what we call False Chinch Bugs and are a real common desert insect," said Jeff Knight, entomologist with the Nevada Department of Agriculture.
Knight says the tiny bugs are harmless to humans but can really swarm in huge numbers leading to a bug nuisance.
"They are another one that, in the right weather conditions, they can build up huge numbers," said Knight.
A wet winter followed up by early summer-like heat has led to a jump in bug populations.
"They can cause a lot of damage to plants and gardens," said Trent English with Truly Nolen pest control.
"We see [False Chinch Bugs] in many locations, so it can seem like a home is getting taken over pretty quick and they feed off weeds, they are notorious for feeding off weeds," explained Knight.
English says he's also getting calls about moths and grasshoppers.
The grasshopper swarms in 2019 received nationwide headlines after huge numbers of the winged insects invaded the strip and surrounding area.
The swarms were seen on weather radar.
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So far, the grasshoppers are not back with the kinds of numbers seen months ago but other bugs are getting noticed.
"It got real hot, real quick, so there is an explosion of insects right now," explained English.
And then there is the Giant Asian Hornet, better known as the Murder Hornet, which is getting a lot of attention.
RELATED: 'Murder hornets' spotted in US pose threat to honeybees
Over the weekend, reports surfaced that the invasive predator was spotted in Washington state.
The insect is known for its menacing eyes, large body and potentially lethal sting for humans.
The Murder Hornet has been clocked up to 25 miles per hour and are particularly deadly for the average honey bee, which the hornet attacks and devours bee larvae.
"They are kind of a warm, subtropical temperate kind of insect, so the climate in Nevada between cold and dry in the North and hot and dry in the South is probably not very conducive to them,' explained Knight.
As for the local bug invasion, experts suggest keeping yards nice and tidy by pulling weeds and reduce watering to cut back on available moisture.
