Son La: Dozens of "strange smoke columns" appear in rice fields.

A video clip showing dozens of strange "columns of smoke" resembling "water columns" erupting over a field in Son La province has sparked curiosity among many, who are unsure what the phenomenon is.

Recently, a video livestreamed from a rice field near the Chiềng Khương border gate in Mường Hung commune, Sơn La province, has appeared on social media. The clip shows dozens of swirling columns, resembling columns of smoke, rising from the rice paddies, ranging in height from 1-2 meters to tens of meters. Many initially mistook them for columns of water, even comparing them to miniature tornadoes.

Upon closer observation at the scene, the livestreamer confirmed that it wasn't steam or smoke, but rather swirling columns of insects, with thousands of insects in each column, moving in a circular motion like a "dance" from the rice field upwards.

Miniature tornadoes rose from the rice fields near the Chiềng Khương border gate (Mường Hung commune, Sơn La province) on August 8th.

The clip, after being posted, attracted over 14,000 likes and thousands of shares. It received a lot of mixed comments, with some Facebook users expressing concern that it was a spiritual omen, a mysterious phenomenon, or a sign of an epidemic, earthquake, or impending tornado...

Conversely, many people assert that this is a normal phenomenon in rural areas, especially in the morning or afternoon in rice fields. Depending on the locality, this insect is considered a gnat, a moth, or a small insect resembling a butterfly or mosquito. However, some people believe that the image in the clip is rare and that mosquitoes, especially small-eyed mosquitoes, usually only fly low over the rice plants and do not form a swirling column like that.

Screenshot from the video: NGUYEN HANG

Speaking with a reporter from SGGP newspaper, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hien, Head of the Entomology and Nematode Department at the Institute of Plant Protection ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ), said that she has not had the opportunity to directly study the phenomenon and therefore cannot draw any definitive conclusions. To accurately identify the insect species and the cause of the swirling columns, it is necessary to collect samples and send them to a laboratory for analysis and classification, avoiding subjective speculation based on the video clip. However, from previously recorded cases, this phenomenon may be related to swarming behavior combined with favorable environmental factors. Some insect species are harmful, while others are beneficial. If they are harmful insects, their dense presence will negatively impact production.

Conversely, if a beneficial or neutral species appears suddenly, it could be a warning sign of environmental changes. It's also possible this is a recurring phenomenon, belonging to the group of "fascinating mysteries" of the insect world. In the case of the field near the Chiềng Khương border gate, the higher insect population compared to other areas could stem from the specific environmental conditions there that are suitable for insect concentration.

Some entomologists and pest control experts suggest that the images in the clip may depict the "swarming" phenomenon of small mosquitoes or gnats. Males typically congregate at a fixed spot, flying in a swirling pattern to attract females, and are most active in the early morning or late afternoon when the air is humid and the wind is light.

Some rice planthopper species exhibit similar behavior, and their dense presence can be a warning sign of an impending pest outbreak.

According to entomologists, this phenomenon depends on the reproductive cycle and weather conditions, so it doesn't occur daily. If it is a pest infestation, it will only appear locally and is not yet a cause for concern.

ANGEL

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/son-la-hang-chuc-cot-khoi-la-tren-ruong-lua-post808156.html