Black Flies

Black flies are small, menacing, biting flies that are a nuisance to people and animals living, working, or playing near running rivers and streams.

These small flies are commonly called “buffalo gnats” because of their humped back appearance. They are typically dark in color and appear in a variety of neutral shades from light gray to black. They belong in the order Diptera (Flies), to the family Simuliidae.

The Bite

The painfully itchy bite of the black fly is created when the female cuts a hole in the skin to suck blood from animals and people. Females will attack incessantly around the eyes, ears, scalp and occasionally on the arms and exposed legs. The pain and swelling of the bite are due to allergic reactions to foreign proteins and toxins that the female injects when feeding. Black flies transit diseases in the tropics, such as River Blindness. Fortunately, they do not transmit any diseases to humans in California, but can cause extreme discomfort and irritation due to their biting habits and/or great numbers.

Black Fly Life Cycle

Black flies breed in flowing water from rivers and streams to irrigation ditches. After mating the female deposits the fertilized eggs on rocks or other substrate in swift flowing water. Larvae emerge from eggs and develop aquatically, feeding on algae and organic matter flowing by in the moving water for 7-10 days, then develop into pupae. Adults emerge from the pupal case through a slit and float to the surface on a bubble of air. Emerging adults live from 2-3 weeks. They are usually found from spring through fall, with the greatest numbers appearing in the late spring and summer. They are active during the day, with peak activity in the morning and early evening.

Personal Protection

• Avoid areas where black flies are active during the day.
• Wear (long pants and long sleeves) light colors, especially whites and tans. Wear a light colored hat.
• Apply insect repellent when outside. If you are bitten, avoid scratching and apply products to reduce itching.
• Black flies are sensitive to weather conditions. They are most active on cloudy, humid days with low wind.

GLACVCD’s Black Fly Control Program

The District controls black flies along an 18-mile stretch of the Los Angeles River from the Sepulveda Basin the San Fernando Valley, to the junction of the 5 and 110 freeways northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The black fly control program began in 1994 as a result of a severe black fly infestation along the river corridor that affected horse owners, golfers, and even baseball players in Dodger Stadium alike. The black fly population that breeds in the river is composed primarily of Simulium vittatum.

In 1997, the District created a special benefit assessment zone to fund the black fly control program. An annual assessment of $0.15 was levied on all properties located within two miles of the Los Angeles River and the Arroyo Seco, a small adjoining tributary. Smaller black fly sources within the District, such as creeks and streams are treated on an as-needed basis. GLACVCD’s black fly program includes:

• Monitoring for Black fly larval occurrence and abundance
• Applying Bti when larval numbers get above predetermined thresholds.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of treatment.

Control Agents Used to Combat Black Flies

Black fly management is accomplished by applying a natural soil bacteria called Bti, to water sources where Black flies breed. Bti stands for Bacillus thurigiensis israeliensis. Bti is a special formulation of common soil bacteria that is highly effective in controlling Black flies and mosquitoes. Because it is extremely specific, Bti is considered one of the safest insect control agents ever developed. Other insects, birds, fish and mammals (including humans) do not have the stomach chemistry to be affected by Bti.

If you have a black fly problem, please contact the District at (562) 944-9656 and schedule a free inspection.