May Flies

[AugustRidge]

Does anyone have any information on when May Fly activity is particularly bad around the lake? In past years I seem to remember that once we get some decent weather, the flies around the water can be a nuisance.

Regards,
AugustRidge

[hockeypuck]

Yea, but it makes for great fly fishing!!

[Grant]

May Flies? Man, that's a rather benevolent term for the malicious little SOBs. They should be at their peak along the Lake in a few weeks. I just spent four days up there -- working in the woods and along the Lake -- and they were not bad at all. But give them a few of the warm days forecast for this week and...

[AC2717]

Yup, was up there this weekend, Black flies are real bad around Margate, Paugus Bay area, my cottage is in that corner of the lake, they were bad

[mg2107]

Mayflies and blackflies are 2 different insects. Mayflies are much larger and don't bite and the trout love them.

[abay]

I think there may be a common misconception here that mayflies are the same as black flies. Mayflies are not all that common in NH (and do not bite), whereas black flies are the bane of all who need to spend time outdoors this time of year.

Here are some sites for more information:

This link provides links for a distribution map of mayflies in NH
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/insects/mfly/nh/toc.htm

This link has drawings of the mayfly:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2166.html

This link has information of the Black Fly:
http://www.ultimate.com/washington/wla/blackfly/

[secondcurve]

Augustridge:

Black Flies tend to be at there worst between Mother's Day and Father's Day. Unfortunately, we are about to enter that time frame. I always wondered why NH doesn't spray for these bugs since May is one of the best months from a weather prespective, but it is totally ruined by the Black Flies. It must have something to do with the impact on other creatures.

[beagle]

secondcurve,
I think I read in one of the above links that since black flies hatch from running water, unlike mosquitos who do so in stagnant water, they are impossible to spray for and/or prevent from hatching. We were up in Wolfeboro and Alton this weekend, and didn't see any. And believe me, if there is a black fly within 10 miles of me, I get bitten :( !!

[AugustRidge]

I appreciate the info., everyone. Thanks.

[20mile]

If we are lucky the dragon flies will be hatching in a few weeks. Once the dragon fly larvae start crawling out of the water to morph, the black flies will soon be obliterated. I believe dragon flies consume up 1000 black flies per day.

So be kind to our dragon fly friends

[SIKSUKR]

Dragon flys also LOVE moquitos.I watch most nights around dusk,dozens of these cool flying creatures chase those skeeters in a kamakazee frenzy.Fun to experience a big group buzzing up and down and all around.
On another note,black flies have been targeted in the past by pouring some kind of solution into the rivers to kill the larvae.I'll see if I can find out more info.

[jeffk]

We were up Sunday (Moultonborough) putting in the dock and raking up the yard. We didn't notice any biting bugs yet :) .

[tricia1218]

I had not noticed the black flies, but I noticed the ticks, found one on my leg after raking. My neighbor had one crawling on his jacket, then tonight when home in MA I found one on my indoor cat, I hope it was carried in by us or the dog today, and did not make the trip back to MA with us from the lake.

[ApS]

Mayflies and blackflies are 2 different insects. Mayflies are much larger and don't bite and the trout love them.
Yeah...Why is it that Blackflies can be so small and be such a pest?

This is the harmless Mayfly, well-known to fishermen:

http://www.cirrusimage.com/Lynette/mayfly_1_med.jpg

Blackfly: Scourge of Earth and the Cosmos....
http://www.ento.okstate.edu/ddd/IMAGES/blackfly.jpg