Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

 

april 7, 2001 - Issue 33

 
 

 
     
 

How Fly Saved the River

 
 

Ojibwe Legend

 
     
Many years ago when the world was new, there was a beautiful river. Fish in great numbers lived in this river, and its water was so pure and sweet that all the animals came there to drink.

A giant moose heard about the river and he too came there to drink. But he was so big, and he drank so much, that soon the water began to sink lower and lower.

The beavers were worried. The water around their lodges was disappearing. Soon their homes would be destroyed.

The muskrats were worried, too. What would they do if the water vanished? How could they live?

The fish were very worried. The other animals could live on land if the water dried up, but they couldn't.

All the animals tried to think of a way to drive the moose from the river, but he was so big that they were too afraid to try. Even the bear was afraid of him.

At last the fly said he would try to drive the moose away. All the animals laughed and jeered. How could a tiny fly frighten a giant moose? The fly said nothing, but that day, as soon as the moose appeared, he went into action.

He landed on the moose's foreleg and bit sharply. The moose stamped his foot harder, and each time he stamped, the ground sank and the water rushed in to fill it up. Then the fly jumped about all over the moose, biting and biting and biting until the moose was in a frenzy. He dashed madly about the banks of the river, shaking his head, stamping his feet, snorting and blowing, but he couldn't get rid of that pesky fly. At last the moose fled from the river, and didn't come back.

The fly was very proud of his achievement, and boasted to the other animals, "Even the small can fight the strong if they use their brains to think."
Black flies (Simuliidae)

No other biting flies inspire such apprehension as do black flies. In the forested parts of the northern part of North America, this fear may be justified, for members of the Simulium venustum species complex can be so numerous and can attack so persistently that outdoor activity during the day without some protection becomes almost impossible. Black flies often land and take off repeatedly without biting. Their numbers, and their tendency to bite, increase as sunset approaches. Even when they are not biting, however, their buzzing presence and constant crawling is as irritating as the bloodsucking itself. Mercifully, relief comes after dark, for unlike mosquitoes and biting midges, black flies do not attack at night. Also unlike mosquitoes, black flies seldom attack indoors or even in a vehicle; once they sense being trapped their attention seems permanently diverted to escape and they spend the rest of their lives crawling up the screen or window pane.

Certain species of adult black fly females are fierce biters, whereas others are strictly a nuisance by their presence around one's nostrils, ears, arms, hands, and other exposed skin areas. These flies can discourage people from remaining in or visiting certain recreational areas for fishing, camping, hiking, golf, etc. when the black fly season occurs. Children are especially susceptible and may be severely bitten while adults in the same area are scarcely aware of the flies. Most complaints occur in early spring (April to June) in hilly areas with swiftly, flowing streams. Bites may appear where clothing fits snugly against the body, leaving a ring of bites just above or below the belt line.

Although they cannot bite through clothing, black flies have a predilection for crawling into hair or under clothing, biting in inaccessible places, such as the ankles and belt line. Tucking trouser cuffs into socks will normally prevent them from getting at the ankles, and a jacket will discourage most of them from crawling under one's shirt or into one's hair. Black flies are strongly influenced by color—they find dark hues more attractive than pale ones, and blue, purple, brown, and black more attractive than white or yellow. A light-colored shirt, therefore, is a much better choice of clothing than a dark blue one. It is a moot point, however, whether blue jeans might not be better than pale trousers: if they are carefully tucked in at the ankles and are without holes, jeans may help to attract the flies away from the head region.

After the black fly finishes feeding, bleeding may continue for some time. At first, the bite site appears as a small, red, central spot surrounded by a slightly reddened, swollen area. Next, the area becomes increasingly itchy, swollen and irritating, sometimes for several days. Some black flies readily attack people, whereas others prefer domestic animals or birds, often feeding during the daylight hours and sometimes into the night. Flies may become so abundant as to be drawn into the air passages of livestock, occasionally resulting in death. It is believed that allergic reactions to bites may be caused by histaminic substances in the fly's saliva. These flies transmit a disease of filarial worms, onchocerciasis, which causes blindness in people in Mexico, Central America and Africa in addition to protozoan parasites, leucocytozoonosis to turkeys and wild birds. They may be potential transmitters of encephalitis. It is suspected that the expansion of black fly populations in Ohio is likened to improvement in stream and river water quality in recent years. As with many aquatic insects, black flies are very sensitive to water pollution.

Identification
Most species of adult black flies are about 1/8-inch long (2 to 5mm), black gray or even yellow colored, broad clear winged without hairs or scales with heavy veins near the anterior wing margin, have short 11 segmented antennae, large round eyes (no simple eyes) and the thorax (middle body region) is strongly convex, giving a humpbacked, gnat-like appearance.

Small creamy-white eggs (rather triangular) about 1/32-inch long (0.1 to 0.4mm) are deposited on the water surface or attached in compact masses to stones and vegetation in shallow fast-running water (riffles) in streams and rivers. Larvae, black to light brown colored, cylindrical, about 1/4-inch or more long (10 to 15mm), are quite active and abundant, sometimes appearing as moss. Pupa are boat or basket-shaped cocoons up to 1/8-inch long (2 to 5mm) in the water.

Life Cycle and Habits
Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt - This species is strictly a nuisance attacking horses and cattle, but not humans. It does fly around people's faces. Breeding occurs in rich productive streams such as polluted (sewage) areas, at beaver dams, etc. It is dark gray to velvety black. (Widely distributed in North America.)

Simulium venustum Say - This species is a nasty biter feared by fishermen and campers. The season extends from May to September with greatest numbers in June and July. They are usually less troublesome in late summer. It is recognized by its white-marked tibiae (leg parts). (Widely distributed, especially in New England and Canada.)

Simulium jenningsi - This species breeds in huge rivers (one mile or so wide). In Pennsylvania, New England and other states, there is currently a multimillion dollar program applying a biological larvicide known as Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner subspecies israelensis (B.t.i.) into streams and rivers to control larvae before adult emergence.

Prosimulium sp. - This species occurs in early spring (April to May). It is a nuisance by both swarming and biting. Larvae occur in small woodland streams. It is the first black fly species to appear each year.

Black flies often occur in enormous numbers in the spring and early summer months, especially in the northern latitudes. Bites can be extremely painful, and their mouthparts are somewhat similar to those of a horse fly (bladelike and piercing) in the female. Mouth parts are rudimentary in the male. On people, they crawl into sleeves, under neckbands, around boot tops and other vulnerable places, especially favoring the head just beneath the rim of a hat. Bites can cause swelling and numb soreness for many days. There are records of both domestic animals and people being killed in a few hours through venomous bites and blood loss. Death can result from suffocation as a result of plugged nasal or bronchial tubes and allergic reactions.

Flies usually bite during the day in outdoor shaded or partially-shaded areas. They do not bite indoors or late at night. Some fly 7 to 10 miles from the breeding sites, or are blown by wind even further to feed on warmblooded animals and people. Flies usually bite for about three weeks before they die. Dark blue cloth attracts more flies than white cloth.

Females deposit from 150 to 500 small, shiny, creamy-white eggs on submerged objects in the stream such as on water plants, rocks, twigs, leaves, etc. or simply scatter the eggs over the water surface. Eggs darken then hatch in four to five days at water temperatures of 70 deg F. Eggs deposited in the autumn do not hatch until the following spring when the water warms.

Young larvae attach themselves to submerged objects, molting six times as they grow. They are elongate with the hind part of their bodies swollen. A head fan sweeps food material into the mouth. They retain their position in the water by means of sucker-like discs and tiny hooks at the tip of the abdomen. Also, they may spin a fine thread which aids in anchoring them. Winter may be passed as larva. Pupation occurs in a cocoon, open at one end. Adults emerge in two to three days when the water is warm. They are capable of immediate flight and mating. The entire life history spans about four to six weeks, depending on species, water temperature, available food, etc. There may be four generations per year.

Black flies are attracted to mammals by the carbon dioxide and moisture in exhaled breath, dark colors, convection currents, perspiration, perfumes, toiletries, etc.

Control Measures
There is little that the individual homeowner can do to control black flies. Bites can be treated with soothing lotions as well as corticosteroids to relieve pain and itching and help lesions resolve. If the reaction is mild, oral antihistamine therapy may suffice, but severe reactions involving shock may require epinephrine (consult a physician).

Prevention

Some avoid outdoor activities during the black fly season. One can purchase hats with fine mesh netting extending over the face and shoulders from camping supply and mail order houses. Repellents offer some relief depending on the individual, species of fly, temperature, humidity, time of day, etc. There are times that flies will bite regardless of the repellent and concentration used. Protection sometimes lasts for two to two and half hours. As a whole, the individual can merely resort to household sprays, aerosols, repellents and screens (60 mesh bolting cloth) to cope with this pest. Some persons indicate that unpainted aluminum "hard hats" attract black flies. A thin film of fuel oil smeared over the outer surface traps flies in the oil, giving the wearer much protection.

The best methods of control are directed toward reducing the number of black fly breeding areas. Removal of vegetation and other objects in streams will cut down the number of larvae. Temporary damming of water can reduce populations, as immature stages need swift, running water. Larvae will die in 10 to 24 hours in calm non-running water.
 

Black Flies or Buffalo Gnats
http://entowww.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/uc/uc-019.html

 

 
     
 

 
     
 

 
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