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.
Black flies are small flies with a humpbacked appearance. Many that have fed on me have white stripes on their legs.
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:
Avoid daytime exposure: Black flies feed in the daytime, so avoid being outdoors during the day if black flies are hatching or swarming.
Avoid sources of running water: The flies hatch in or near flowing or running water, so avoid streams and other running water sources.
Wear light-colored clothing: Black flies are attracted to dark colors.
Cover up: Wear light-colored long sleeves, long pants, and a hat. Wear clothes that fit close to your body because the flies can crawl under loose sleeves or into boots or shoes.
Consider wearing a head net: To protect your face and neck when you can’t avoid areas with swarms, wear a head net to keep out mosquitoes and gnats.
Fans: Pointing fans in outdoor areas create wind currents that will carry black flies away due to their light-weight bodies.
Smoke: Starting a fire and staying close will keep most pests at bay because of the smoke.
Natural scents: Natural deterrents are commonly suggested to help deter these insects, including vanilla extract, though this has not been scientifically proven to be effective.
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.
More: H-58 east of Grand Marais closing. Why the UP shortcut won’t be open until fall
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?
Deer flies and horse flies appear by mid-summer, generally when the mosquitoes and black flies decrease in number. Deer flies have brightly colored eyes and patterned wings, and come in a variety of different types. The much larger horse flies are more drab brown or black, sometimes with light spots, and clear wings. Females of both deer and horse flies fly in noisy, fast circles around their chosen victim, and can inflict painful bites.
Also called punkies or biting midges, no-see-ums resemble miniature, short-legged mosquitoes, and are usually less than 3 millimeters long. Only females of a few species bite humans. The majority bite other insects or eat nectar. No-see-ums that bite humans are less common than other biting insects in Pictured Rocks.
Ticks are tiny arachnids that bite humans. They are found in a variety of habitats, usually in tall grass or in dense shrubs where they wait for a four-legged or two-legged (human) mammal to pass by. Ticks are known to transit Lyme disease and other serious diseases so it’s important to take precautions to avoid them. Stay on trails and check your clothing and body after every hike.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan black flies bite, drink blood. 9 ways to stop them