black flies 2020

[Wldrns]

First of the season spotted today in the SW Adirondacks near Forestport/Woodgate. Typical of the first hatch none were biting, but swarmed around my car window and a few ventured inside while the window was open. Given the continued cool windy weather of recent weeks and heavy rain last night, I'm a little surprised at this early emergence date.

[TCD]

It's been cold here in Keene; the snow just melted from the storm a couple days ago. No sign of any bugs yet up here.

We are trying to grab the dry days in this secret season to get out. Got some climbing to do in North Hudson; it will be bug hell in 3 weeks, we have to get what we can before that...

[bioguide]

Originally Posted by Wldrns

First of the season spotted today in the SW Adirondacks near Forestport/Woodgate. Typical of the first hatch none were biting, but swarmed around my car window and a few ventured inside while the window was open. Given the continued cool windy weather of recent weeks and heavy rain last night, I'm a little surprised at this early emergence date.

There are over 20 different species that have been collected and described in NYS each with varying emergence times. Not all feast on our flesh.

Here is some free, albiet slightly outdated, reading for those that may be interested.

https://nysl.ptfs.com/data/Library1/06042012/73574.PDF

[Wldrns]

Yes, I had long ago heard that there at least 20 distinct BF species, and I know that the first few of the season that hatch are not programmed to bother me for my blood. But they will still swarm in mass and make the uninitiated folk entering the woods very nervous. I saw a woman on a lawnmower today wearing a headnet and thought she must be one of those.

[Tick Magnet]

Great resource Bio!

I'm not sure what species they were, but the black flies were out and about in force in the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest in southern Hamilton County. No biters, but plenty willing to fly up my nose and in my ears. Tredhed was even able to catch one with his mouth (he's so talented).

[JohnnyVirgil]

Originally Posted by Wldrns

Yes, I had long ago heard that there at least 20 distinct BF species, and I know that the first few of the season that hatch are not programmed to bother me for my blood. But they will still swarm in mass and make the uninitiated folk entering the woods very nervous. I saw a woman on a lawnmower today wearing a headnet and thought she must be one of those.

I wore my headnet today when I was working in the yard. I got tired of picking them out of my eyes. They weren't biting though, just being a PITA.

[MTVhike]

They are out in the Champlain Valley, near Westport. Not 10 miles farther west in Elizabethtown.

[bluequill]

Bugs are out in North Hudson by Crowfoot Pond but not biting.

[Woodly]

Blackfies are out and biting here but I am in Broome Co.
You'll see more blackflies anywhere in the ADK's in a day then I'll see all year.

[bobadkhunter]

Saw a few over the weekend in Sabattis(Town of Long Lake).

[TCD]

Damn things are just starting in North Hudson. Hoping for one more climbing day....

[nickUSA]

They were swarming and landing (but not biting) down in the Central Catskill Region today...

[forest dweller]

From my experience, in the central Adirondacks, you're usually safe til around the 21st of May.

[Wldrns]

On the other hand, in one very strange year, I took out a Boy Scout troop over Memorial Day weekend with not a fly in sight. Only happened once.

[DSettahr]

Originally Posted by Wldrns

On the other hand, in one very strange year, I took out a Boy Scout troop over Memorial Day weekend with not a fly in sight. Only happened once.

Last year (2019), during Memorial Day in the High Peaks, I saw no Black Flies at Bradley Pond. I spent a nice few days camped there. Of course, there was also still snow on the ground and the trees hadn't leafed out yet, either. It was a very surreal experience for late May.

But when the black flies did show up in the High Peaks a week or so later, they showed up with a vengeance.

[Hoser]

Here in the SW ADKs the blackflys have been manageable last few years. Holy crap the Deer Flies were relentless last summer, driven by rain all of May and June. Deer flies lasted through July. Our own version of the Murder Hornet.

[Dave Bourque]

I am a trail adopter and did my bi-annual trail maintenance on the Cotton Hill section of the Long Path this week. The Black Flies were out in force. I was very glad there was not a lot of downed branches that needed to be removed from the trail so I could keep on moving.

[TCD]

Well, they are "on hold" up here in Keene for a day or two. 25F and 3" of fresh snow at my house this morning...

[DSettahr]

They've been out in the Albany area (Heldeberg ridge) this week. Swarming but not biting (but both days I was out hiking were pretty windy so that helped).

[tenderfoot]

Anyone have a Black Fly update for John Brooks area. Wistful wishful thinking of early next week (5/18). Thank you.