CoasterMania: Return of "Potato Salad Surprise"?

I've been receiving warnings from a coworker of mine who has a boat in the CP Marina. It appears that the annual invasion of the Muffleheads/Mayflies has started. Apparently the last few days and this morning have been especially bad. So anyone heading out to Coastermania tomorrow be warned that we might not be the only guests at the park :)

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Scott W. Short, Rail Junkie
mailto:scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

I was over by Wicked Twister yesterday and the track on the launch run and the wall to the shed looked like it was painted brown ;). Just touching the fence made a bunch of them fly up. When they do run it I suspect there is going to be a swarm. So much for the guy getting the train nice and shiney. They are really bad compared to last year.

Mufflehead season is in full swing right now. They are everywhere. I haven't seen any mayflies yet but I'm sure they'll be popping up soon.

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Brent Haley
Gemini Crew '02

I got pelted by a swarm of those things while riding Magnum last week. I think I swallowed one.

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I fool so feelish...

Midges are all around here in SE Michigan. I think the unseasonably cooler weather has kept the Mayflies/fish-flies from popping up yet.

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Tommy Penner - Variable X
"Last night, I laid in my bed, looked to the sky, and thought, Where is my ceiling?"

This is a solution to the $3.00 pop problem. With all the juicy bugs who needs pop...:) I hate them, but they are part of the experience. I suggest you keep your mouth CLOSED on all fast rides......:)

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Get with it or die in the process.....

The muffleheads and the mayflies are emerging a little later than normal due to the unseasonably cool and wet weather we've had here in the midwest. The good news for park goers - when temperatures dip below 65 degrees or when there are winds higher than about 10 mph, these guys will seek shelter (or at least remain stationary unless disturbed). Their life is rather short, yet at the same time annoying to humans and important to the ecosystem.

Sometimes, people may have hypersensitivity to these insects which can bring on unpleasant allergic reactions. Anyone with this sensitivity (or those with entomophobia) should avoid going to Cedar Point on the days when bug populations are high.

If you'd like more information, you can always go to the features section and read the articles I wrote on both the mayflies and the non-biting midges. Just think of ingesting them as adding a little extra protein to your diet!

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Stephanie
Webmaster's Wife

Wow, I think the temp dropped below 65 tonight for ERT so that would explain the absence in getting hit in the face with them. Based on how the park was covered in head to toe with them I was surprised.