Sand fly season is upon us. If you live on the water in Western New York, you know what I’m talking about. These flies are more than just pests. They are bugging everyone from boaters, to drivers, and those just trying to spend time outside.
In this blog I’ll explain why these flies come and go every year and when you can expect to see a bug free sky again.
Caddisflies are the generic name given to what you probably know better as sandflies. These bugs are very common along waterways, especially at this time of year. The reason is that the larvae of this fly are aquatic.
It means the larvae of this species lives underwater and have gills to help them breathe. Other insects that have aquatic larvae include mosquitos and dragonflies.
After spending some time in the water, these flies become adults, undergo molting, and then fly away. Once they become adults, they don’t eat and only focus on reproduction. Because they don’t eat, their adult life only lasts for a few weeks. It’s good news for those of you who have been getting pelted by these pests recently, whether it be by car or boat.
Although we see these flies return every year, some years are worse than others. Noteworthy years in recent memory include 2016 and 2017. One reason these seasons were so bad is because of the wet spring that accompanied them.
This year our rain totals, although impressive, were not uncommon or above average. Throughout the month of May in Buffalo, a little over 3 inches of rain fell. Average for the month is 3.37 inches. As of June 15th, 2.61 inches of rain has come down in June. Because it has not been overly wet, one can deduce that the sand fly season will end shortly!
Until then, you should avoid areas along the Niagara River like the I-190 and Niawanda Park. If that is not an option, it is time to invest in an unlimited Delta Sonic carwash pass!
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