Images capturing swarms of gidgee bugs across cattle stations in North West Queensland were posted to social media this week.
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Facebook posts from Cheri Stanger and Maree Balmain showed an influx of bugs around the homestead of their cattle stations near Julia Creek.
At Cowan Downs Station, Ms Stanger said there had been an influx of insects for a few weeks and they had made their way into her house, which she was cleaning up most mornings.
"I have noticed them anywhere there is light, they come in swarms and have an awful odour," she said.
Meanwhile at Carrum Station, Ms Balmain's daughter Elsie was enjoying the bugs a little too much.
"She ate some but she worked out pretty quickly the taste awful!" Ms Balmain said.
"They're the most disgusting animals! Even Elsie knows not to eat them now."
Director of entomology at the Queensland Museum Dr Christine Lambkin, said after rain in February and warm conditions following, the conditions were just right for the insects to reach maturity and start flying.
"These masses are because after the rain the previous eggs hatched, have eaten and moulted at least three times and then moulted to adult forms," Dr Lambkin said.
"These adults will now mate and lay eggs. Those eggs will probably wait until spring to hatch (if conditions are right then."
Gidgee bugs are not generally classed as a pest but can cause damage to crops or pastures.
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