Black Flies

[Grant]

So...someone who is up at the Lake...please give us an update on the black flies. Are they out in force yet? I know the fish are biting, but what about the "State Birds"???

[spotsink]

We were up the last two weekends and between the cold and the rain there were not many bugs yet... hard to say what it will be like once (or if) the weather warms up some.

[Grant]

75 and sunny up there today...so a major hatch could be in the works.

As Lawrence Welk once said, "Wunnerful"...

Fly report tomorrow.

[JohnNH]

Grant,

Living year round in NH and dealing with the Stae Bird is somewhat a right of passage.

I don't live on the lake, but have a cold water stream on my property and the answer is: BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I was outside trying to do a little yard work Monday evening and they just about chewed my ears off.

As you know, just get a couple hundred feet from shore on the lake and they are not an issue. In your case, you can always dive - but I bet they are waiting when you come up.

Enjoy the birds,
John

[Grant]

Thanks for confirming what I figured.

The reason I ask: Much of the next four days will be spent working in the woods and along a road. We usually get mauled, but were pretty lucky last year. Oddly enough, the worst time we had with them was on a canoe trip across the lake when we approached Black Island -- the closer to shore, the more intense they got. Between my brother and me, we paddled so hard that we could've given any Baja a run for the money!

[ike]

They are out.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Facts about Black Flies: Black flies
Small humpbacked flies that develop in clear running water, unlike mosquitoes
The adults live for about 2-3 weeks
Females feed on blood, males on nectar
Black flies bite in the middle of the day and like dark colors
As the female bites, she injects saliva into the skin, which is highly irritating and leads to swelling and itching
Females deposit from 150 to 500 eggs in submerged vegetation. The eggs hatch in four to five days.



Mayflies

[Lakegeezer]

Just ignore those black flies. The first 10 bytes swell up for a week - you're going to get them no matter what you do - the second 10 are less bad - itch for an hour or so then go away. After that, they are just annoying. Today, it hit the mid 70's and wow - they were out.

[Just Sold]

Today on the lake and far from shore they were a biting!!!! So the BF season has begun.

[upthesaukee]

Played golf this evening at Lochmere in Tilton...black flies starting to come out there as well.

[DRH]

They were out in full force in West Alton today!

[Grant]

I thought Thursday night's cold would take some out, but once we raked up some leaves, they were back with a vengence. And they've been BAAAAAAD. That being said, I can deal with some bugs in return for some time up here.

[jeffk]

And yet, I was outside yesterday in Moultonboro over 5 hours, 4 sitting in the boat waxing and polishing (maybe black flies don't like Country and Western music ), and over an hour raking and general yard work and I don't have a single bite. Maybe I'm just not tasty . but I'm not complaining.

[Paugus Bay Resident]

They aren't out today (47 degrees), they have too much sense

[Grant]

Nope -- definitely not out today. Then again, neither am I (anymore).

Senter Cove Guy and I ventured into Wolfe City to get some full cylinders for a shore dive today, only to find the dive shop on "pre-season" schedule...closed Sunday and Monday. Too bad. We were looking forward to doing our sub-surface version of the Derby.

But now, back in the house with the fire going, I can say that it's MUCH nicer in here...

[upthesaukee]

Yeah, those stupid black flies!!!! Three of us out playing golf today and no black flies. What's a little rain, putting up the umbrella, trying to keep the clubs dry, wearing a rain shirt that wasn't waterproof. And all the while those stupid black flies stayed at home, nice and dry!

reminds me of the cartoon of two fishermen fishing in the rain at a pond on a golf course, and one says to the other, "Look at those stupid golfers...out here playing in this rain."

[sum-r breeze]

Just in case you needed some real proof about our favorite flies,take a look at monday evening's Weirs Cam . There's enough insects on that lens to make you start itching from the comfort of your own home.They're almost done I hope.

[ApS]

Oops.

WeirsCAM doesn't have the correct file name suffix for posting here.

They look like chironomid midges -- a non-biting, mosquito-looking, flying insect.

They are a harbinger of um...um...tainted water.

Habitat described, and sketch/drawing of a midge:

http://muextension.missouri.edu/expl...sts/g07402.htm

[Lcookster]

Newbie vacationer here.....We are coming first week of July and renting a house in Tuftonboro Neck. How long is the black fly season? What should I expect? Thanks for any information....L

[looniac]

Hey Grant. This is your old buddy Paul and I can assure you that they're biting. Between the weather and the black flies, the weekend was pretty rough (but better at the lake then in NJ..).

[Paugus Bay Resident]

Lcookster, they should be gone by then, but we'll probably have a bumper mosquito crop in their place

[pmj]

Black Fly season will probably be here for another week or 2. Yes, they will be replaced by mosquitoes but I have never seen black flies here past mid June. They are definately here now in full force !

pmj

[ApS]

And do it for Science -- they need it for study.

Black flies pollinate blueberries. (I didn't know that!)

Also, a tongue-in-cheek gift for Charity:

Fans of the blackfly can buy one of those "snow-domes" (the ones you usually see at Christmas time?), but containing black flies.

Not available in New Hampshire -- but available in Maine -- at the "Black Fly Breeders Association":

If you enjoy eating blueberries...you owe the pleasure in part to the...Blackfly. As the primary pollinators of blueberries, the Blackfly also fits into the grand scheme of things by feeding salmon, bats, and dragonflies.

The nectar of the blueberry flower is just one delight for the Blackfly — human blood is another and May through July is prime season. The Maine Blackfly Breeders Association site is full of interesting information about the insects and about the organization which is actually a clever cover for a group of people who enjoy having fun and raising money for various Maine charities...The supplies [mentioned] are handcrafted Blackfly Buildings and other products on sale to raise money for the cause. A real hoot here is the twist on a traditional snow globe and at $45 The Blackfly Swarm Dome is a bargain at twice the price.

Blackfly Breeders Association [memberships] are available cheap and come complete with a certificate suitable for framing, and the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped to preserve the...Blackfly for a little bit longer.

Reference is here -- (scroll down).

Say, if Bike Week occurred during our "high" Black Fly season, would we residents get fewer Black Fly bites?

(And more blueberries?)