Wildlife And Ecology

DELMARVA BEACHES: Battle of the beach flies begins

There's no apparent rhyme or reason for the surplus of biting insects this year -- and little to be done about it.

State officials target only mosquitoes in their insect-control efforts.

And because biting flies are bigger than mosquitoes, pesticides sprayed for mosquitoes don't make a dent, said William Meredith, state mosquito control administrator.

Meredith says Delaware's biting insect season starts with freshwater mosquitoes in the spring. Salt-marsh mosquitoes -- the long-distance fliers -- arrive in May with the deer flies and stay through September. Deer flies leave a little earlier.

Greenheads hit hard with warm temperatures.

And then, there are black flies, virtually unknown until water quality started to improve in creeks and streams. Now the tiny creatures thrive and swarm.

All these bugs bite. Typically, the female seeks the blood meal. The male black fly, for instance, is happy to suck flower nectar.

On Cape Cod, officials set out the greenhead nesting boxes, Meredith said. The black traps heat up, and the flies -- which feed only in daylight -- are drawn inside and cooked.

Meredith said he has neither the staff nor the money to launch such an effort. In addition, his mission is strictly to control mosquitoes -- insects that are known for carrying diseases that are harmful and sometimes fatal to humans.

Joseph Panzarella, of Hazelton, Pa., said Wednesday wasn't all that bad -- not at all like the day before.

"They're a nuisance. They're a pest," he said. "Today, not so much."

Bailey said deer flies typically come on first, followed by black flies, which seem to coincide with the horseshoe crab spawn, and then the greenheads.

It's pretty much like that throughout Delaware.

So far, they seem to be causing problems only for people who want to be outdoors -- so it's a recreation and quality-of-life issue, she said.

But in countries to the south, swarms of black flies can kill livestock and wildlife either through suffocation -- by flying into the nose -- or through a swarm biting the animal and withdrawing massive amounts of blood, Carle said.

"There are, indeed, seasons for each species of biting fly," said Doug Tallamy, professor and chair of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware. "But that complicates things. When I did my master's work on horse flies and deer flies at a lake in New Jersey, I found 54 species. They were present from mid-May until September as a group, but each species had a very specific period of activity. And the species people encounter will depend on where they live. Salt-marsh biters are different species from what occurs inland.

Biology, Ecology, Conservation – Cool Camp Curriculum at Petaluma ...

Spaces are still available in sessions 2 through 5 at the Petaluma Wildlife Museum’s 2011 summer camp program. We’re big fans of this totally unique, educational, neighborhood camp, a program that first became a favorite part of our family’s summer schedule 12 years ago and though there have been lots of changes of late, it’s all for the betterment of an evolving environment teaching critical lessons for today’s world, through fun, captivating activity, hands-on animal care, educational games and special guest visits from Classroom Safari and Reptile Rescue.

Campers gain experience in exotic animal husbandry. Throughout the day, they’ll handle and provide practical care to the museum animals under the supervision of camp  counselors. Each week’s session runs Monday through Friday 10 am to 4 pm. Fee is $250 per student. A maximum of 40 students per session creates an opportunity for campers to work and have fun in small groups. The Wildlife Museum is located at 201 Fair Street, Petaluma, in its own dedicated facility at the back of the Petaluma High School parking lot.

2011 Camp Sessions:

1. June 13-17

2. June 27-July 1

3. July 11-15

4. July 18-22

5. August 1-5

Download camp application and release forms here . Call the Wildlife Museum with any questions you might have prior to registration at 707 778 4787.

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