Interesting Facts

Deceased farm animals have been found along streambeds and riverbeds, the victims of large swarms of Black Flies.  It is felt the Black Flies cause toxemia or anaphylactic shock in the animals.  In some cases, rapid blood loss may also have been a cause of the death.  An animal may breathe in the flies through its nostrils in such large amounts that suffocation of the animal results.

Animal victims of Black Flies have included horses, cows, birds, hogs, sheep, turkeys and chickens, and even dogs and cats.

Children are often the targets of Black Flies while nearby adults may not be bothered by the Black Flies at all.

River blindness, or onchocerciasis, can be found in Africa, Mexico, Latin America, and some countries of South America.

By removing pollutants in our streams and rivers, we are actually creating inviting breeding grounds for Black Flies.  (But we still must continue to clean up our streams and rivers despite that fact!)

Black Flies are known to travel up to 10 miles from their breeding sites in search of a bloodmeal.

Black Flies seem to prefer the head area of its bloodmeal host, although it also will bite under clothing.

Black Flies are attracted to humans largely through the carbon dioxide we exhale, but they are also attracted by dark colored clothing, perfumes and sweat.

The smell of exhaled carbon dioxide also attracts Black Flies to livestock and other mammals.

Over 250 species of Black Flies have been found in North America, while there are about 2,000 species throughout the world.

Humans can develop severe allergic reactions to the bite of a female Black Fly, requiring medical attention.

Black Fly larvae are considered an important part of the food chain of streams and rivers.

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