May Flies

AugustRidge · 05-06-2007, 10:35 PM

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 · 05-07-2007, 06:37 AM

Yea, but it makes for great fly fishing!!

Grant · 05-07-2007, 07:05 AM

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 · 05-07-2007, 12:41 PM

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 · 05-07-2007, 01:01 PM

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

abay · 05-07-2007, 01:10 PM

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/d...fly/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 · 05-07-2007, 03:27 PM

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 · 05-07-2007, 03:34 PM

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 · 05-07-2007, 05:11 PM

I appreciate the info., everyone. Thanks.

20mile · 05-07-2007, 08:37 PM

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 · 05-08-2007, 09:21 AM

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 · 05-08-2007, 02:31 PM

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

.

tricia1218 · 05-08-2007, 10:00 PM

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 · 05-09-2007, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mg2107

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:

Blackfly: Scourge of Earth and the Cosmos....

05-06-2007, 10:35 PM	#1
AugustRidge Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	May Flies 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

05-07-2007, 07:05 AM	#3
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,504 Thanks: 382 Thanked 232 Times in 126 Posts	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... __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

05-07-2007, 12:41 PM	#4
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,585 Thanks: 756 Thanked 356 Times in 268 Posts	Black flies 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

05-07-2007, 03:34 PM	#8
beagle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 176 Thanks: 187 Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts	Too bad, I don't think we can spray for them! 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 !!

05-07-2007, 05:11 PM	#9
AugustRidge Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks I appreciate the info., everyone. Thanks.

05-07-2007, 06:37 AM	#2
hockeypuck Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southern CT Posts: 169 Thanks: 19 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Yea, but it makes for great fly fishing!!

05-07-2007, 01:01 PM	#5
mg2107 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 169 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Mayflies and blackflies are 2 different insects. Mayflies are much larger and don't bite and the trout love them.

05-07-2007, 01:10 PM	#6
abay Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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/d...fly/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/

05-07-2007, 03:27 PM	#7
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,127 Thanks: 1,343 Thanked 564 Times in 291 Posts	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.

05-07-2007, 08:37 PM	#10
20mile Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: 20 mile bay Posts: 87 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	Dragon Flies 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

05-08-2007, 09:21 AM	#11
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	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. __________________ SIKSUKR

05-08-2007, 02:31 PM	#12
jeffk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,182 Thanks: 209 Thanked 448 Times in 259 Posts	Sunday - no problems We were up Sunday (Moultonborough) putting in the dock and raking up the yard. We didn't notice any biting bugs yet .

05-08-2007, 10:00 PM	#13
tricia1218 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: MA/Paugus Bay Posts: 155 Thanks: 31 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	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.