Black Flies in Canada

Are Black Flies a problem in April in either Montreal or Quebec city?
I can't imagine that they would be a problem inside the city ---
perhaps only in the wooded areas? What about timeframe?

Thanks.

Keith
Pittsburgh

Not in the cities. Not even in April in the woods.

Ken
Winnipeg

Keith M wrote:

Are Black Flies a problem in April in either Montreal or Quebec city?
I can't imagine that they would be a problem inside the city ---
perhaps only in the wooded areas? What about timeframe?

Thanks.

Keith
Pittsburgh

No! Bu the bears might come looking for you!



"Keith M" wrote in message
om...
Are Black Flies a problem in April in either Montreal or Quebec city?
I can't imagine that they would be a problem inside the city ---
perhaps only in the wooded areas? What about timeframe?

Thanks.

Keith
Pittsburgh

"Keith M" wrote in message
om...
Are Black Flies a problem in April in either Montreal or Quebec city?

Not at all. In fact, the last time I was in Quebec City in April (a mid
April) there was still some snow on the ground.

If you're planning on travelling to either of these cities in April, black
flies will not be a problem. Black flies like the bush and mid/end of May is
when they're out there.

Judy

On 3 Feb 2004 11:37:43 -0800, (Keith M) wrote:

Are Black Flies a problem in April in either Montreal or Quebec city?
I can't imagine that they would be a problem inside the city ---
perhaps only in the wooded areas? What about timeframe?

Not in the cities. Outside of the cities, they only become a problem
in May.

---
Mike from Ottawa

"Mike from Ottawa" wrote in message
...
On 3 Feb 2004 11:37:43 -0800, (Keith M) wrote:

Are Black Flies a problem in April in either Montreal or Quebec city?
I can't imagine that they would be a problem inside the city ---
perhaps only in the wooded areas? What about timeframe?

Not in the cities. Outside of the cities, they only become a problem
in May.

---
Mike from Ottawa

For how long do they remain a problem?

Gerrit

Are Black Flies a problem in April in either Montreal or Quebec city?

Not in the cities. Outside of the cities, they only become a problem
in May.

For how long do they remain a problem?

From mid-May to mid-June in eastern Canada...
As stated they are only a problem in the forests, not in cities.

Florida has seen higher populations of black flies in the spring of
1998 than at any time during the last 30 years. These populations were
driven by the rainfall extremes associated with "El Niño". Common
names for this pest include black flies and turkey gnats, as well as a
number of new names applied by Floridians which are not repeatable
here. Because of the hump visible behind their head when viewed in
profile, black flies are also called buffalo gnats. Like eye gnats,
they fly around people's heads, occasionally getting into eyes and
ears as well as crawling in the hair.

Black flies are found in many parts of the US and Canada, including
Florida. Populations in Florida normally are not present in numbers
large enough to be noticed by humans. Simulium slossonae is found in
Florida from Dade country north to Duval county, and west to Escambia
county. In some areas it is present all year long. In South Carolina,
population peaks have been recorded in late July, late September, and
late October, but large numbers have been found in Florida between
April and November. Overall, Florida has 18 different black fly
species, the most common with populations present from August through
July. Only female black flies feed on blood. Males feed mainly on
nectar.

"Black flies swarm over the North East. Like the Mosquito, it is the
female that bites, but the males that swarm around the females
increase the nuisance factor. On the worst days, the swarming can
drive a person insane, making it impossible to remain outdoors. At
other times it is only miserable. The biting females find any exposed
skin, crawl through openings in clothes to get at skin and crawl into
ears and the nose. Fortunately their season is relatively short, only
four or five weeks. The female bites a hole in the skin to suck the
out blood. This bite is not painful and often is unnoticed by the
victim. That is because a combination of chemicals is injected,
including painkillers, toxins and anticoagulants. In response to these
chemicals, the area around bites swell, become painful and itchy.
Black flies do not transmit any diseases to humans, but some people
have an allergic reaction to the anticoagulant including fever,
nausea, and rashes Black Flies don't like wind and are only active
during the day. They prefer shade. They breed in fast flowing rivers
...To protect yourself from black flies, cover yourself in
light-coloured clothing since they are attracted to the darker
colours. DEET repellents offer some relief but at times the flies bite
no matter what repellant that you use..."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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They can go much later than mid June in Northern Ontario!

There were a fair number around in mid July last year - it depends on the
weather in the spring.


"The News Guy(Mike)" wrote in message
...

Are Black Flies a problem in April in either Montreal or Quebec city?

Not in the cities. Outside of the cities, they only become a problem
in May.

For how long do they remain a problem?

From mid-May to mid-June in eastern Canada...
As stated they are only a problem in the forests, not in cities.

Florida has seen higher populations of black flies in the spring of
1998 than at any time during the last 30 years. These populations were
driven by the rainfall extremes associated with "El Niño". Common
names for this pest include black flies and turkey gnats, as well as a
number of new names applied by Floridians which are not repeatable
here. Because of the hump visible behind their head when viewed in
profile, black flies are also called buffalo gnats. Like eye gnats,
they fly around people's heads, occasionally getting into eyes and
ears as well as crawling in the hair.

Black flies are found in many parts of the US and Canada, including
Florida. Populations in Florida normally are not present in numbers
large enough to be noticed by humans. Simulium slossonae is found in
Florida from Dade country north to Duval county, and west to Escambia
county. In some areas it is present all year long. In South Carolina,
population peaks have been recorded in late July, late September, and
late October, but large numbers have been found in Florida between
April and November. Overall, Florida has 18 different black fly
species, the most common with populations present from August through
July. Only female black flies feed on blood. Males feed mainly on
nectar.

"Black flies swarm over the North East. Like the Mosquito, it is the
female that bites, but the males that swarm around the females
increase the nuisance factor. On the worst days, the swarming can
drive a person insane, making it impossible to remain outdoors. At
other times it is only miserable. The biting females find any exposed
skin, crawl through openings in clothes to get at skin and crawl into
ears and the nose. Fortunately their season is relatively short, only
four or five weeks. The female bites a hole in the skin to suck the
out blood. This bite is not painful and often is unnoticed by the
victim. That is because a combination of chemicals is injected,
including painkillers, toxins and anticoagulants. In response to these
chemicals, the area around bites swell, become painful and itchy.
Black flies do not transmit any diseases to humans, but some people
have an allergic reaction to the anticoagulant including fever,
nausea, and rashes Black Flies don't like wind and are only active
during the day. They prefer shade. They breed in fast flowing rivers
..To protect yourself from black flies, cover yourself in
light-coloured clothing since they are attracted to the darker
colours. DEET repellents offer some relief but at times the flies bite
no matter what repellant that you use..."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ The News Guy(Mike) - Seinfeld Lists
+ (two mirrored sites)
+ http://membres.lycos.fr/tnguym
+ http://waveprohosting.com/tnguym
+ All things Seinfeld; scripts, trivia, lists,
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thanks everyone for the replies.

On Wed, 4 Feb 2004 14:45:24 +0800, "Gerrit 't Hart"
wrote:


"Mike from Ottawa" wrote in message
.. .
On 3 Feb 2004 11:37:43 -0800, (Keith M) wrote:

Are Black Flies a problem in April in either Montreal or Quebec city?
I can't imagine that they would be a problem inside the city ---
perhaps only in the wooded areas? What about timeframe?

Not in the cities. Outside of the cities, they only become a problem
in May.

---
Mike from Ottawa

For how long do they remain a problem?

In Ontario and Quebec, it's usually up to the first couple of weeks of
June. The warmer weather slows them down. You'll see them around in
July and August, but there aren't as many and they're not as active.
Mosquitoes, sand flies, horse flies and deer flies take over during
the summer.

Black flies breed in moving water, which is why they're associated
with spring.

---
Mike from Ottawa