Another new season arrives

[Merrymeeting]

Black Fly season!

They're out here in N. central MA. They aren't biting yet, but they are out and swarming enough to drive you batty. Working in my yard last night was not fun.

I've never quite been able to figure out why they buzz you but don't bite when they first come out. My son suggested it's because they haven't matured enough to bite yet. Sound's plausible. Anyone out there who knows the whys and wherefores of black fly development? ;)

The peepers are out too. I love that sound!

[HomeWood]

They are out in full force down here in North Carolina. I've managed to kill a few and look at their stinger/sucker and it's huge. They can be rather painfull and there is not much you can do other than to stay inside until October :rolleye2:

[Merrymeeting]

Homewood,

I think we're talking about different flies. The ones here are not around for long, pretty much just May (often called Mayflies for that reason). They are also very small but DO have a painful bite.

http://www.ultimate.com/washington/wla/blackfly/

http://www.theheartofnewengland.com/LifeinNewEngland-BlackFlies.html

[Merrymeeting]

Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt - This species is strictly a nuisance attacking horses and cattle, but not humans. It does fly around people's faces. Breeding occurs in rich productive streams such as polluted (sewage) areas, at beaver dams, etc. It is dark gray to velvety black. (Widely distributed in North America.)


Answers for almost anything can be found on the internet!

[hilltopper]

I've never heard of black files being called mayflies...they are definitely different. The mayfly is a lager brown fly and is one of a fly fisherman's favorite hatches. Here's an intersting link on black flies:

http://www.mainenature.org/blackfly/blackflyinfo.html

hilltopper

[Dave R]

My youngest kid can assure you they are now biting in southern NH.

[SIKSUKR]

I've never heard of black files being called mayflies...they are definitely different. The mayfly is a lager brown fly and is one of a fly fisherman's favorite hatches. Here's an intersting link on black flies:

http://www.mainenature.org/blackfly/blackflyinfo.html

hilltopper
I've always called black flys May bugs.

[chipj29]

May flies, black flies, May bugs, black bugs, whatever you want to call them....they suck! Only noticed a few in the yard this weekend when I was working Saturday morning. I am sure that will be changing soon enough. I already got my yearly bout with poison ivy out of the way...now that I remember where it is in the yard, I will hopefully be smart enough to stay away from it. Trying to pull the vines out of the ground with bare hands was a bad, bad idea. :rolleye1:

[LilacHill]

Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt - This species is strictly a nuisance attacking horses and cattle, but not humans. It does fly around people's faces. Breeding occurs in rich productive streams such as polluted (sewage) areas, at beaver dams, etc. It is dark gray to velvety black. (Widely distributed in North America.)


Answers for almost anything can be found on the internet!

And that's a crock. I spend enough time out there with my horses to be able to tell you the bugs bothering them also like humans!

[GWC...]

Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt - This species is strictly a nuisance attacking horses and cattle, but not humans.
These are listed as Black Fly; not Horse Fly...
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2167.html

And that's a crock. I spend enough time out there with my horses to be able to tell you the bugs bothering them also like humans!
The Black Fly love the eye area on anything in the animal kingdom

Also, apparently Merrymeeting has yet to encounter the dreaded Horse Fly. Unlike some Forum members, they think I'm sweet - they just can't seem to get enough of me. :eek: :laugh:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse-fly

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Horse_fly_Tabanus_2.jpg/250px-Horse_fly_Tabanus_2.jpg