Sure, many people who live in the Twin Cities have heard about the new species of gnats this year. I live just outside of Minneapolis and haven’t had a problem with them, but I’ve heard from others in the area that they are terrible.

I’ve personally never had any issues with gnats in the Boundary Waters, but is this new species making it up north or is this just a southern MN issue? Leaving on Friday for a trip so wondering if this is something I need to consider preparing for, if they truly are as bad/ annoying as people have mentioned.

I don't think it's a "new species" of gnats. Its just your old friend from the BWCA venturing south for a visit- Black Flies. Black fly invasion of the Twin Cities

I love the entomologist quote at the end of the article: 'we need to get to mosquito season so we can forget about these black flies...'

Minnesota Murder Gnats? Well, maybe not quite to that extreme. Prepare for the worst. Hope for the best.

Gnats are the absolute worst. They can be awful in the bwca.

I believe the black fly in the BWCA only has one hatch a year. I know some will hatch later in the year but it is not from hatched flies from this year breeding.

They talked in the TC that this specie of black fly can breed thru much of the summer.
Most black flies like running water to attach the eggs and than larvae to rocks. That is why often along streams they are the worse.

Pinetree: "I believe the black fly in the BWCA only has one hatch a year. I know some will hatch later in the year but it is not from hatched flies from this year breeding.


They talked in the TC that this specie of black fly can breed thru much of the summer.
Most black flies like running water to attach the eggs and than larvae to rocks. That is why often along streams they are the worse."

Not what the expert in the Star Tribune article states. According to the article:
"It’s too late to attack the population this year because they’ve already hatched and the females are spread out in search of blood to lay their eggs for next year’s invasion."
and later:
"But relief may be in sight. If the experts are right about which species is causing the current havoc, they will soon die off because they produce only one generation."

They have been nasty the last couple of days in Wis. head nets needed for yard work.

riverrunner: "They have been nasty the last couple of days in Wis. head nets needed for yard work."

Quite often the first big warm up they hatch. Always figure around Memorial day they are the worse up to the BWCA. One good thing-at dark they go away or the day.

I would prefer six inches of snow over a black fly hatch, and I hate snow in May.

Black flies are thriving around Ely right now. Brutal walk at sundown last night. Had to give up and flee.

Also known locally as Sand Flies. Little bastards will draw blood. Like any little bugger in small amounts they're managable. I have come across patches of them so thick, bug dope did nothing and they've made me run back to the truck nearly screaming.

Banksiana: "Black flies are thriving around Ely right now. Brutal walk at sundown last night. Had to give up and flee."

I wonder sometimes like tarred parking lots they swarm over-Maybe a little warmer. The Moose lake parking lot for canoes is sometimes bad, get away from there and often they are almost non existent.

Be sure to bring a head net. Some trips it’s a life saver.

Read this post this morning and thought “yikes, hope it’s a local phenomina”. This afternoon after a bike ride I found one bouncing on a window trying to get out, then minutes later had another one buzz me on my patio. I’m right along the river very near downtown Minneapolis, and I’ve never seen them around here before. Funny thing is, I don’t think I ever had troubles with them in the BWCA until 2 years ago.

The little b— made my ear swell shut on one trip. Thank God for Benadryl!

Portage99: "The little b— made my ear swell shut on one trip. Thank God for Benadryl! "

Yes and people have got high fevers also.

I feel like I can take quite a bit of adversity. It is part of what I love about the challenge of tripping. But....black flies can drive you to pure insanity. I take deep pleasure in destroying them.

I always think of the voyageurs, and how they must have suffered.

x2jmorris: "Gnats are the absolute worst. They can be awful in the bwca."

They are right now. Head net is the BW mask

Speckled: "Also known locally as Sand Flies. Little bastards will draw blood. Like any little bugger in small amounts they're managable. I have come across patches of them so thick, bug dope did nothing and they've made me run back to the truck nearly screaming. "

no Sand Flies are different. They are horrid in Florida at dawn and dusk.. More like salt and pepper size.. Not round and citrusy like Black Flies.

Sand Flies just light you on fire. BF are annoying but the SF horrid.

but there could be a new species of BF as there is not just one now. Different specie bite at different times. Can't say yours are like ours but this may be of interest black fly bugger fiend

Pinetree: "

Portage99: "The little b— made my ear swell shut on one trip. Thank God for Benadryl! "

Yes and people have got high fevers also. "

People have developed fevers from black fly bites? Oh great, then I suppose you can just inhale a few to get a nice dry cough for some really worrying symptoms on your trip!

Just got back from 4 days/3nites dispersed camping near Isabella off the Wanless road on Homestead Lake. The Black Flies were not bad at all and misquotes were almost non-existent. Guessing this will change soon, probably in the next few days.

There is definitely a black fly hatch brewing in the BWCA now. I had no black flies on the first leg of my trip and flies became abundant by the end. A head net is the only recourse since bug dope is not effective on them.
Tom

Black flies are a part of every spring. They suck, but have the decency of going to bed after sunset, unlike mosquitoes.

Black flies have hatched pretty good over the past few days at my house. I think the time spanned between my last snow patch and the bug hatch was about a week LOL.

arctic: "Black flies are a part of every spring. They suck, but have the decency of going to bed after sunset, unlike mosquitoes.


Black flies have hatched pretty good over the past few days at my house. I think the time spanned between my last snow patch and the bug hatch was about a week LOL."

Yes it was always nice for the black flies going to bed early at a campsite. You could at least enjoy the evening some if the mosquitoes don't relieve them and attack.

I was up on border lakes off the Gunflint Trail last week and there were lots of what I call gnats (same every May). They usually bite but I do not feel it, but the small welts itch for the next few days. However this year I had none of that despite it being warmer than usual and there being lits of them. Mosquitos were starting too, but were not very aggressive. Used no repellant or headnet.

This year has been the worst I can remember for ticks and gnats in the Duluth area. My 8 year old had 7 ticks on Sunday alone. My wife had 3 after spending an hour in the garden today. This is nuts!