Michigan’s state parks, lakes and campsites in the Upper Peninsula will be lively over the Fourth of July weekend, and many people will be swarmed by the region’s notorious biting flies ready to crash the festivities.
“Black flies are very small, gnat-like insects that often gather in swarms,” the National Park Service said. “Bites from the females cause painful itching and swelling that can last for several days or even weeks.”
Peak black fly season has passed in Michigan which is typically around mid-May through mid-June, but they continue to bite throughout summer and mainly in the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan areas, according to Michigan State University Extension.
The biting flies tend to target the head and neck area on people leaving behind a small, red inflamed bump on the skin.
Though they’re difficult to avoid completely, there are ways to keep the flies at a bearable minimum with the use of repellent, clothing choices, and locations to avoid.
Here’s how to keep black flies away from you in Michigan over the long holiday weekend:
What do black flies look like?
Black flies are a small, flying insect often with a “humpbacked” appearance that bite animals including humans to suck their blood, according to MSU.
These flies have also been referred to as “buffalo gnats” or “turkey gnats,” according to The Pest Rangers.
Will black flies be bad in Michigan over the Fourth of July weekend?
In Michigan, black flies are most active from mid-May to mid-June, but they are present throughout the summer and prefer hot, wet, humid days.
There are 65 different species of black flies in the state, according to MSU, with most living around rivers and streams. The flies’ larvae are aquatic, and adult female black flies can deposit from 150 to 500 eggs in flowing water — female black flies use mammal’s blood to develop eggs.
How can I keep black flies away from me?
Similar to mosquitoes, repellents can be used against black flies, though they tend to be less effective than for mosquitoes. Based on VeryWell Health, here are some strategies:
How can I soothe a black fly bite?
According to Heathline, you should wash the area with soap and water to help reduce the risk of infection.
To soothe the bite, apply ice onto the area at 15-minute intervals can help reduce discomfort, or applying a cortisone or prescription topical steroid can help as well.
In addition, Proven Insect Repellent suggests applying aloe vera gel, witch hazel or calamine lotion onto the bite.
Do black flies transmit diseases?
In other regions in the world, black flies have transmitted a parasite known as “River Blindness,” according to the Pan American Health Organization.
“Since 1995, new cases of onchocerciasis blindness have not been reported in the Americas,” the PAHO said.
Though, black flies can cause varying reactions in humans, such as:
In addition, the insects are also known to bother and bite other mammals like livestock.
“Black flies are a great nuisance to animals. The bites are associated with petechial hemorrhage and lesions that take weeks to heal, in particular on teats of cows,” the Merck Manual Veterinary Manual said.
What is the difference between black flies and stable flies?
Black flies and stable flies pose slightly different threats.
Black flies are the main biting fly in the Upper Peninsula, although people tend to encounter them most near creeks and rivers where their larvae hatch from, appearing mostly in the spring through June but sometimes as late as fall.
Stable flies are a little less common as they stick to the Lake Superior beaches and shorelines, especially Pictured Rocks, throughout mid- and late summer.
Black flies are very small, just a bit bigger than gnats, and tend to gather in swarms.
Stable flies look a lot like a typical house fly, except they have a protruding mouthpart to feed on (mostly) animal blood. Stable flies tend to swarm closer to the ground, near ankle-level, earning them the occasional nickname “ankle biters.”
Repellents may work on black flies, but they are ineffective against stable flies. Since they target legs and ankles, loose-fitting long pants and thick socks are recommended when stable flies are active.
What other biting bugs do I need to know about before venturing outside?
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan’s black flies can swarm and bite. What to know this summer
Reporting by Sarah Moore, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
