People who plan to attend the Burning Man festival next week are worried about the bugs. More than 70,000 people are preparing for the arts and music event in the Nevada Desert. But organizers say the bugs aren't that bad.
A social media frenzy exploded this week around the alleged bug infestation in the Black Rock Desert. Burning Man Co-founder Will Roger Peterson lives nearby in Gerlach, NV.
"The media has sensationalized the whole bug apocalyptic thing," he says. "Certainly it's normal, and they should not worry."
He says every year when organizers put up large shop lights on long telescopic poles bugs swarm to them.
And, he says unseasonably wet weather has brought stink bugs, some mosquitos and gnat-like seed bugs. But, he says conditions are getting better.
"The gnats don't like it when it's above ninety (degrees)," he says. "We had some winds yesterday and that might have blown some of the bugs, and then a lot of them are dying by hitting the hot lights at night. So, actually it's gotten better in the last few days."
Peterson suggests wearing light clothing and packing some bug spray if you're headed to Burning Man.
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