Swat team: scientists track humongous number of flying bugs

The silver Y moth (Autographa gamma), pictured, is a major component of the large night-flying insect migrants studied by radar in the new study, measuring migration annually over a region in south-central England monitored with specialized radar and a balloon-supported aerial netting system, scientists said, December 22, 2016. Ian Woiwod/Handout via REUTERS

Counting the number of bugs whizzing high overhead annually may seem all but impossible, but researchers in Britain have completed the most comprehensive tally ever conducted. And the headcount they came up with was almost un-bee-lievable.

A total of 3.5 trillion insects weighing a combined 3,200 tons annually migrated annually over a region in south-central England monitored with specialized radar and a balloon-supported aerial netting system, the scientists said on Thursday.