Treebeard's Stumper 24 April 98

Born To Die

The warm weather this week is starting to bring out the insects. We've all been noticing swarms of tiny flies dancing in the air above the lawn, like airborne schools of anchovies. I believe these flies are midges, not mosquitoes. They don't bite. They have reduced mouth parts, and probably don't eat at all. They will live and mate and die within a few days. Many insects live like this, especially near water. I imagine them with tiny "Born To Die" tattoos on their fragile legs. What kind of life is this? How is it possible?

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