SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- If you’re an outdoors enthusiast in the Northeast, you know black flies can be a constant source of torment every summer.
From itchy bites to chaotic swarms, these little pests can ruin all manner of summer outings for hikers, campers, fishers, paddlers, even gardeners in Upstate New York and around the world.
With so much of the year dominated by snow and slush, Upstate New Yorkers refuse to stay inside when the weather is warm. Humans and black flies must coexist, sometimes painfully.
Despite their name, black flies vary slightly in color and size. There are 1,800 known species of black flies (also known as buffalo or turkey gnats).
Kim Adams, extension entomologist of the SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, chatted with syracuse.com about how long black fly season lasts, how to treat those painful bites and how to repel those little demons.
Dead black fly larvae on a stone pulled from a tributary of Estes brook in the town of Keene. Bob Spranz, crew chief for black fly control in the town of Keene, treated the stream the day before and was checking for live larvae.
When is black fly season?
Black fly season typically starts in the middle of May and runs through late June or early July. They're often gone by mid-July but a cold, rainy start to summer (like 2017) can extend the season into August.
Swarms often appear around creeks, rivers and streams. Black flies don't breed in still ponds or bird baths, like mosquitoes.
"They require cold, running water," Adams said. "The length of the season is very weather-dependent. Some years are obviously worse than others."
Sunny, still days may be the worst times to be outside near a wooded area. Even if you're wearing long sleeves and pants, a nuisance swarm can cause discomfort.
Black flies are not just a problem for hikers, fishers and campers; they can swarm on gardeners and anyone outside. (Brisk winds can offer slight relief.)
"They don't necessarily stay in the woods," Adams said. "We usually put in our garden on Memorial Day. If it's a warm humid day and not breezy, watch out."
Unlike mosquitos, you won't find black flies entering many human buildings or cars. But they don't have a problem crawling around your body to find a safe spot to bite.
How do they bite?
A black fly bite is more of a shallow cut. After scraping and stretching the skin with tiny serrated mandibles, the fly slurps out the blood.
The result is a painful, itchy, sometimes sore welt on the skin. Black flies frequently bite around ankles or behind ears.
"They can crawl up your sock and leave a ring of bites," Adams said. "You can outrun them, sure, but if you're sitting outside, it's tough to endure."
Only female black flies do the biting. They require a nutrient-rich meal of blood to lay their eggs. Male black flies do not bite.
Sweet smells draw black flies so avoid perfumes, aftershave, lotions or shampoos before hiking, fishing or camping in or around wooded areas.
Although black fly bites do not typically spread disease in the Northeast, they are can cause severe allergic reactions in humans (and your little dogs too).
In other parts of the world, black fly bites have caused serious maladies, even river blindness.
Humans aside, black flies can be a scourge for cattle, poultry, swine, horses, sheep, goats, dogs and deer. Livestock veterinarians take swarms seriously, because multiple bites can lead to simuliotoxicosis in livestock, caused by toxins within black fly saliva.
Individual black flies can cause weakened immune systems in birds, severe mouth lesions in livestock, delayed pregnancy and other stress-related diseases.
How to deal with bites
First, wash the area with soap and warm water.
Don't scratch or further irritate the bite. If a bandage helps you stop itching and forget about the area, slap one on.
Aloe vera or calamine lotion can soothe irritation. If there are symptoms of an allergic reaction (nausea, dizziness, fever), ask your doctor about an antihistamine.
Tips to repel black flies
- Wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors.
- Tuck your pant legs into your socks.
- Wear light-colored clothing (flies are attracted to dark colors).
- Avoid wearing perfumes and consuming sweetened foods or beverages.
- Use insect repellents (DEET, citronella oil, mentholated cream). Some swear by non-toxic repellents like Avon's
- Light a fire to help eliminate flies at a campsite.
- Bug hats with netting, or bug shirts can be effective.
This 1978 clipping from The Post-Standard describes the black fly in detail. "This remarkably clear portrait, magnified 380 times, reveals a Martianlike creature with a honeycombed head, a snout and furry feelers."
Black flies and Upstate NY culture
The insect may be a nuisance but its place in outdoor culture has remained part of Upstate New York's deal-with-it identity for centuries.
They have even been hailed as a blessing in disguise. In 1878, the North Woods Walton Club also saluted the black fly, along with other biting bugs, as guardians of Adirondack solitude.
A 1978 clipping from The Post-Standard describes the black fly in detail, after its portrait was added to the Adirondack Museum.
"This remarkably clear portrait, magnified 380 times, reveals a Martianlike creature with a honeycombed head, a snout and furry feelers."
Inlet, N.Y. has such a fraught history with black flies that it created The Black Fly Challenge, an Adirondack mountain bike race on the second Saturday in June. In the peak of black fly season, cyclists cruise through the rugged Moose River Recreation Area, hopefully too fast for swarms to latch on.
Katrina Tulloch writes music and culture stories for Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Contact her: Email | Twitter | Facebook
