|
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Listening Point - General Discussion BWCA Biting Fly Identification Chart |
Author
Text
06/03/2017 08:53PM
#1 - Look to the bottom of this thread for most current chart.
#2 - For a while now it has bothered me that every time someone mentions biting or black flies, there is always confusion about what that means. All the flies that bite us are black in color, so what are they talking about??
So here is a chart I whipped up showing the main types, sizes, and descriptions of the flying bugs that pester us up there. My drawings are not great, but I did not want to create copyright infringement, and I think they get the idea across.
If anyone has corrections, updates or suggestions I will do my best to update.
#2 - For a while now it has bothered me that every time someone mentions biting or black flies, there is always confusion about what that means. All the flies that bite us are black in color, so what are they talking about??
So here is a chart I whipped up showing the main types, sizes, and descriptions of the flying bugs that pester us up there. My drawings are not great, but I did not want to create copyright infringement, and I think they get the idea across.
If anyone has corrections, updates or suggestions I will do my best to update.
06/03/2017 09:59PM
It's my simple hope that next time (or next year) when someone reports "those black flies were killing me" that this chart can be referenced and everyone can come to a common understanding of what is happening.
I sent a copy to the head of the U of MN Biology extension area asking for feedback, improvements, corrections, etc. Hopefully will get suggestions.
I sent a copy to the head of the U of MN Biology extension area asking for feedback, improvements, corrections, etc. Hopefully will get suggestions.
06/04/2017 05:09AM
Great job on the chart. It's a wonder there has been nothing like this before out there. I imagine this took some time to compile and draw. Thanks for your work on doing this and sharing with all of us. Hopefully this will clear up some confusion on what bug is bugging us.
"Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” ~A.A. Milne
06/04/2017 07:32AM
Nice chart! Maybe there should be a sticky to standardize the nomenclature of BWCA insects! I agree with everything, except where I grew up, a "sand fly" was like a black fly, except it occurred in sandy areas. Of course these are just local names and there is no right or wrong answer. Anyway, nice job!
06/04/2017 07:45AM
We should have your chart as a permenant feature on here someplace for reference. I already made a hard copy (hope you don't mind) to share with others.
"Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” ~A.A. Milne
06/04/2017 03:58PM
Thanks Jaywalker, when the thread came up this year about Black Flies, I did a little search and found THIS.
The part about them biting only after the females have fertile eggs makes sense to me. I've been lucky enough to have run into them a few times when they would swarm and annoy you, but didn't bite, I'd guess the females weren't needing the blood proteins. I'd never heard them called Buffalo Gnats before reading that Adirondack Almanac article. Thanks again.
The part about them biting only after the females have fertile eggs makes sense to me. I've been lucky enough to have run into them a few times when they would swarm and annoy you, but didn't bite, I'd guess the females weren't needing the blood proteins. I'd never heard them called Buffalo Gnats before reading that Adirondack Almanac article. Thanks again.
06/04/2017 03:58PM
Thanks Jaywalker, when the thread came up this year about Black Flies, I did a little search and found THIS.
The part about them biting only after the females have fertile eggs makes sense to me. I've been lucky enough to have run into them a few times when they would swarm and annoy you, but didn't bite, I'd guess the females weren't needing the blood proteins. I'd never heard them called Buffalo Gnats before reading that Adirondack Almanac article. Thanks again.
The part about them biting only after the females have fertile eggs makes sense to me. I've been lucky enough to have run into them a few times when they would swarm and annoy you, but didn't bite, I'd guess the females weren't needing the blood proteins. I'd never heard them called Buffalo Gnats before reading that Adirondack Almanac article. Thanks again.
06/05/2017 10:29AM
Thanks Jaywalker! That is an excellent synopsis.
Here is a link to an article that was published in the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer in July 2001. There are some interesting Scanning Electron Micrographs near the bottom of the article that show the piercing mouth parts.
What's Eating You?
Here is a link to an article that was published in the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer in July 2001. There are some interesting Scanning Electron Micrographs near the bottom of the article that show the piercing mouth parts.
What's Eating You?
"Said one of these men, long past seventy years of age: 'I could carry, paddle, walk and sing with any man I ever saw. I have been twenty-four years a canoe man, and forty-one years in service; no portage was ever too long for me. Fifty songs could I sing. I have saved the lives of ten voyageurs. Have had twelve wives and six running dogs. I spent all my money in pleasure. Were I young again, I should spend my life the same way over. There is no life so happy as a voyageur's life!'"
06/05/2017 01:41PM
Nice chart Jaywalker. Great job and thanks. I've passed it into a few friends.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Ralph Waldo Emerson...and...“Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
06/15/2017 08:48AM
Excellent idea, jaywalker. I see under deer fly, that they are attracted to the color blue. Which made me wonder as I ponder a new CCS tarp purchase, which colors to avoid and which colors to favor. A brief Google search suggested that black flies might be repelled by the color yellow. Can anybody here speak to colors that repel and attract flies in the BWCAW?
"Call on God, but row away from the rocks." - HST
06/15/2017 04:41PM
quote outsidej: "Excellent idea, jaywalker. I see under deer fly, that they are attracted to the color blue. Which made me wonder as I ponder a new CCS tarp purchase, which colors to avoid and which colors to favor. A brief Google search suggested that black flies might be repelled by the color yellow. Can anybody here speak to colors that repel and attract flies in the BWCAW?"
Deer flies are definitely attracted to blue, like blue Harmony (bear) barrels or blue solo plastic cups. . I'll never buy anything blue again for the BWCA.
Not sure any color repels much, though most believe mosquitos are attracted to darker colors more than lighter ones (as well as larger body size, motion, CO2, and other body chemicals).
Subscribe to Thread
Become a member of the bwca.com community to subscribe to thread and get email updates when new posts are added. Sign up Here