'Insect swarm' appears on rain radar

[Te Puke Weather]

Huge swarms of what are thought to be insects that have shown up on MetService's rain radar are intriguing entomologists.
A large swarm was detected about 9pm on Friday over Auckland which has since drifted out to sea.

The MetService rain radar at 3.30am on Saturday.



Another appeared over Bay of Plenty about 3am on Saturday.
A Metservice spokesperson said the swarms are a common occurence on its radar and although it has not been established exactly what they are, it is assumed they are insects.
On its website, MetService said that to show up in radar imagery, they must have some of the characteristics of precipitation particles - similar size, fairly numerous, and enough water content, or perhaps coating.
Entomologists say it is the right time of year and temperature for the Tasmanian grass grub to emerge from the soil.
It is possible dead insects could come ashore en masse in the next few days, after they drop into the sea.

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