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home > radio > maine news > news story Maine NewsBlack Fly Population On The Increase
While you often hear that it might be the worst year ever for black flies, it may actually be true. Entomologists believe this may be a good thing because it cleans up Maine's inland rivers and streams. Maureen and Chad Green are not surprised that pesky black flies will likely be larger and more prevalent in Maine in the future than they were in the past. But the couple is willing to accept the trade-off: cleaner water for more fly bites: Maureen: "When we were out at our friends house in Mulwich, he lives near some water, and I was getting bit yesterday." Chad: "I would rather get bitten than grow an extra limb I guess." Maureen: "Yes, yes. I'd rather have a clean environment. I'd rather have more black flies for a clean environment." Chad: "Or we could just spray chemicals on ourselves so we don't get bitten. The river will be clean, but we'll be reeking of DEET." Insect experts, including University of Maine Pest Management Specialist Jim Dill, say that in the 1960s and 70s, black flies hung around for a few weeks in the summer and then disappeared. These days the pests are found from early spring until the snow flies in November. He explains the increase stems from the Clean Water Act of 1972, along with the gradual decline of paper mills and other manufacturing facilities along Maine's waterways: "We still have the diversity of species we probably, we've got about 45, 46 species in the state of Maine. But now that the rivers and some of the tributaries are much cleaner than they were 30 years ago, some of these other species that were not in abundance are now proving very good survival." Dill says it was a hodge podge of industrial chemicals, sewage, heavy metals and even bark from logs that kept the insect population lower than it is today. Dill explains, "When the Clean Water Act went into place, everything that was being discharged had to meet those standards and once the river started getting cleaned up, getting the chemicals and other pollution out of there, it just made a better habitat for all kinds of insect life, including black flies." Dill says that, along with the research, the University's Cooperative extension service is hearing a lot of anecdotal evidence from the observant and often bitten public about the changes. Dill explains, "You know when you're out there working in your garden, and the black flies are trying to carry you off, you really notice them. That just shows that the speciation throughout the season that there are differences in the size of the actual species, and people are noticing the difference." Among those cheering on the growth in the black fly population is Marilyn Dowling of the Machias-based Maine Black Fly Association. Dowling says, "Oh we are, yes. And people have been calling us up, blaming us for the surge in black flies, and we cheerfully take credit. We advise them to help by donating a couple of pints of blood here and there, and we point out that black flies are really actually beneficial in many ways." Those beneficial ways, she reminds us, are the pollination of blueberries, food for fish and keeping the human population under control. She adds, "You know, over the years, you actually find out more about them, and even you get a little fond of the little buggers. You know, you do!" The Association, which raises money for charity, failed in its effort to have the legislature declare the black fly the Maine state bird. However, the organization boasts that it had the prize winning float in a Fourth of July Parade.
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