If you have spent a summer in the northeast, you are familiar with the black fly. At times, the swarms of tiny insects become unbearable, crawling underneath your hat, buzzing into your ears, or biting your arms and legs as you try to explore the outdoors. The dreaded black fly season is noted as the “official” start of the summer in the Adirondacks. These gnat-like insects first emerge around Mother’s Day, and (hopefully) dwindle down around Father’s day.

What can you do to protect yourself from these tiny insects?

Unlike mosquitoes who draw blood through a straw-like proboscis, black flies will take a bite, let the blood pool, and lap it up like a dog drinks its water. For some people, bites will leave bumps the size of a golf ball. On others, they will simply leave behind an itchy red dot. Should you encounter a black fly bite, it’ is important to clean the wound with soap and water as quickly as possible. This will remove the anticoagulant that the insect has left behind when it bites. This anticoagulant helps you to bleed faster, so that the fly can have a speedy meal. Now that’s what I call fast food! 

Even though those black fly bites may get itchy, try  to avoid scratching! Scratching and reopening a black fly bite can lead to an infection. You never know what tiny bacteria may be hiding under your fingernails. To relieve the need to scratch, you can apply an over the counter itch cream, such as cortisone, that should be available at your local pharmacy. When travelling to the Adirondacks in the summer, bug spray can be one of your most essential tools. Repellants containing DEET are the most effective at repelling black flies. This substance interferes with the bugs ability to find you by covering up your scent. Unfortunately, the DEET does not last long, and needs to be re-applied every few hours.

Another option for repelling black flies is permethrin. This is a synthetic insecticide that can be directly applied to your clothes, but is too strong to be put directly on your skin.  Non-chemical options are also available! Lemon and Eucalyptus essential oils have been proven to prevent black flies from bothering you. Dabbing some vanilla extract or lavender oil on your wrists and neck will also repel insects. In a backyard setting, lighting citronella candles, and planting mint, basil, and garlic will keep the black flies at bay enough for you to enjoy your summer barbeque or campfire.  

How do black flies relate to our watersheds?

Black flies breed exclusively in running water. Some prefer fast flowing, burbling streams, where others prefer slower moving mountain trickles. Most permanent or semi permanent moving water sources are occupied by a species of black flies. Black flies are an environmental indicator. Having a healthy population of black flies tells us that the streams are healthy and clean. Most species of black fly will not tolerate any sort of pollution, including organic.

Females lay their eggs on vegetation within the streams. The eggs will hatch in the water, and the newly-hatched larvae will “glue” themselves to the rocks on the bottom of the stream. The larvae feed by filtering water through their mouth for small pieces of organic matter. Once full, the larvae will pupate below the surface of the water. Eventually, emerging adults will ride bubbles up to the surface and fly away.

Though mayflies or midges may be more desirable, studies have shown that black fly larvae are a vital food source for trout and salmon. A black fly population means that a watershed is healthy, with minimal pollution and a steady food web in place. Healthy rivers make happy black flies. Happy black flies make hungry fish, and hungry fish make happy anglers.

Tips for getting through black fly season:

1. Wear lighter colored clothing. Black flies love dark colors. Navy blue, green, black and brown are the most attractive colors to black flies. The best shades to wear during black fly season are pastels- especially very light yellow, blue, and green.

2. Wear long sleeves and long pants. By exposing less skin, the black flies will have a harder time making a snack out of your skin.

3. Keep moving! Flies like to land on stagnant objects, so if you continue to move around the bites will decrease.

4. Hike or explore on a breezy day. Tiny insects have difficulty flying in windy conditions, so get out on breezier days to enjoy the woods.

5. Lastly, try wearing a head net! Though you may look like a beekeeper, these head nets are efficient at keeping bugs off of your head and neck.

Unfortunately for us, black flies will always be a part of an Adirondack summer. Black flies are an important part of our ecosystem; however, you can utilize any combination of these methods to prevent these buggers from being too much of a “buzz-kill”.