Holy Blackfly , Batman . Look at the Size of that Bug !
by Catherine Shaw Bowker
I usually consider autumn the time of year when I no longer need to fret about flies , biting insects and creepy June bugs ( which apparently don ’ t have calendars as they show up in May and don ’ t leave until mid-July ). But this year , at least one of Maine ’ s irritating pests has occupied my mind on more than one day – the Maine Blackfly .
Why am I thinking about blackflies in September ? For one thing , now that I don ’ t have to fend them off , which is nearly impossible , I have time to think about them . Why are they here ? What is their purpose , other than to torture us ?
There is no official blackfly season in Maine . Their first appearance of the season varies depending upon the area of the State since running water and warm weather , above 50 degrees , are necessary for the blackfly to come out of hiding and begin its breeding . Naturally , blackflies breeze into Southern Maine before they arrive in Aroostook County . As there is no official start to the season , there is also no official end . Like the snow that lingers in the County longer than it does downstate , blackflies hang around the County longer . While scientists have tried to pinpoint the season , the best source of information about blackfly season is the locals . They are the ones who know the blackfly patterns in their area .
Blackflies are tiny , nasty critters . There are at least forty species of blackfly in Maine and they breed at different times . They breed in running water and they breed more than once per season giving us a constant supply of biting pests . Because they are so tiny , less than 1 / 6 of an inch , they are subject to the whims of the wind and can be blown several miles from their breeding sites .
Few of us have ever seen these pee-wees up close , close enough to get a good look at what is biting us . I looked at photos online , and it is pretty nasty , especially the serrated jaws that grab and saw into our skin . Like the mosquito , the blackfly feeds on our blood and its saliva contains chemicals that prevent our blood from coagulating . But unlike the mosquito , the blackfly ’ s saliva also contains an anesthetic . Thus , when the little beast spits on us , we don ’ t feel the bite until its aftereffects kick in – the itching and swelling . Tricky little beasts , aren ’ t they ?
So how does one thwart the blackfly ? It is not easy . Chemicals are usually the first line of defense , spraying the general area as well as ourselves . While there are numerous natural sprays which claim to stave off the flies , County folk know the only effective spray contains DEET .
If you don ’ t want to use chemicals , you can try some other tricks . Blackflies like certain colors – blue , purple , brown and black – so wearing light colors can help . They also like the carbon dioxide we expel ; the only remedy for this is to stop breathing . This seems like a bad option to me .
A blackfly outfit is another option . The suggested garb for blackfly protection – a hat draped with a head net securely tucked into your shirt to prevent the pests from
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