Black Fly

This post is not intended to give you the heebie-jeebies, but simply to identify the nasty little critter which is making life miserable at the moment.  The black fly is here in its millions!

Black Fly.  (Wikimedia Photo)

Northern Michigan is happy territory for the black fly — locally, probably Cnephia, of the family Simullidae, one of four types which feed on humans.  The black fly lays its eggs in running water (of which we have lots), and trout find it tasty as it emerges from its watery incubator (alas, we have no trout).  The male feeds on nectar; the female feeds on blood, which it needs to produce eggs.  She has been feeding on mine for the past couple weeks.  In the UP, e.g., Isle Royale National Park, black fly is the bane of campers and backpackers, who are swarmed.  But there is some good— they tend to go away by mid-July.

Black fly was not such a nuisance last summer.  Perhaps this is simply a bumper crop year.  Or perhaps our warm winter did not cut into the population.  In any case, they have overstayed their welcome.  Here's your hat, what's your hurry. •••