The buzz of a fly can be irritating, but for some species, the annoyance goes beyond just sound. Biting flies are a nuisance that can turn a pleasant day outdoors into an itchy and painful experience. These persistent pests feed on blood, targeting humans, pets, and livestock alike. Understanding What Flies Bite, and how to identify them, is the first step in protecting yourself and your loved ones from their irritating bites and potential health risks.
Common Types of Biting Flies
From the large and imposing horse fly to the nearly invisible no-see-um, a variety of biting flies can impact your comfort and well-being. Each type has unique characteristics, behaviors, and bite severity. Let’s explore some of the most common culprits you might encounter.
Deer Flies
Deer flies are smaller than house flies but pack a surprisingly painful bite. Emerging in the spring, these insects are equipped with scissor-like mouthparts that slice into the skin to access blood. This feeding method makes deer fly bites particularly sharp and noticeable.
Horse Flies
Similar to deer flies, horse flies are notorious for their painful bites. These larger flies use a similar slicing and dicing technique to feed, leading to immediate pain and subsequent swelling. The sheer size of a horse fly can be alarming, and their bites are often ranked among the most painful fly bites due to their size and bite intensity.
Do Horse Flies Bite Dogs?
Yes, horse flies do bite dogs and other pets. While a single fly bite might be a minor irritation, a swarm of horse flies can cause significant discomfort to dogs. The scissor-like mouthparts of horse flies inflict a painful cut, and while the immediate irritation is usually short-lived, repeated bites can severely irritate a dog’s skin.
Female horse flies are the blood-feeders, requiring blood meals for egg production, while males primarily feed on nectar. Horse flies thrive in warm weather but are surprisingly resilient to breezes, unlike many smaller biting flies.
If you notice your dog excessively scratching or agitated by flies, it’s best to limit their outdoor exposure during peak fly activity hours, especially during warm daylight. Constant scratching can lead to self-inflicted wounds, which can unfortunately attract more flies seeking to lay eggs in open sores. If you suspect a wound has become infested, consult your veterinarian immediately. For fly irritation around your pet’s ears, your vet can also recommend appropriate treatments.
Black Flies (Buffalo Gnats)
Black flies, sometimes called buffalo gnats due to their humped back appearance, are small but persistent biters. They thrive in moist environments, particularly near flowing water like rivers and creeks. Black fly bites can be quite painful and are often felt immediately. While found throughout the United States, they are particularly troublesome in the northern regions.
Stable Flies
Stable flies bear a strong resemblance to common house flies, often leading to misidentification. However, unlike house flies that sponge up food, stable flies are blood feeders. You can distinguish them by their pointed mouthpart, designed for piercing skin and sucking blood. They are most prevalent in late summer and early fall and are commonly found around livestock facilities, although they will readily bite humans as well.
Snipe Flies
Snipe flies are related to deer flies and are typically found in damp, wooded areas. While most snipe fly species are non-biting, some varieties are equipped to bite and can inflict irritating punctures. They prefer damp habitats and may be encountered in forested regions.
Sand Flies
Sand flies are tiny insects, often mistaken for drain flies due to their small size. These pests target both mammals and reptiles for blood meals. An adult sand fly is less than 1/8 inch long and characterized by long legs and wings that are held in a distinctive V-shape when at rest. Despite their size, sand fly bites are known to be disproportionately painful.
Yellow Flies
Yellow flies are primarily found in the southeastern United States, favoring shaded locations near forests and bodies of water. Their bites are followed by localized swelling and persistent itching, making them a significant nuisance in their regions.
Biting Midges (No-See-Ums)
Biting midges, often called “no-see-ums” due to their incredibly small size (rarely exceeding 1/32 inch), are masters of infiltration. Their minute dimensions allow them to easily pass through standard window and door screens, making them a pervasive indoor and outdoor biting pest. Biting midges are frequently encountered near coastal areas, breeding in salt marshes and mud. They are most active on calm days as they are easily disrupted by air currents.
Mosquitoes
Perhaps the most infamous biting fly, the mosquito is responsible for biting more people globally than almost all other biting flies combined. Beyond the itchy welts, mosquitoes are vectors for numerous diseases, making them a significant public health concern.
Problems Caused by Biting Flies
The immediate pain and itchiness of biting fly bites are just the initial problems. For some individuals, fly bites can trigger allergic reactions. More seriously, certain biting flies are vectors of disease, capable of transmitting pathogens to both humans and animals. Mosquitoes are notorious for spreading diseases like West Nile and Zika viruses, while deer flies can transmit tularemia.
Livestock are also significantly affected by biting flies. Beyond disease transmission, swarms of flies can cause constant agitation and stress in cattle and horses, negatively impacting their health and productivity.
Getting Rid of Biting Flies and Protecting Yourself
Controlling biting flies requires a multi-pronged approach focusing on both reducing fly populations and personal protection.
Reduce Breeding Grounds: Eliminating breeding sites is crucial for long-term control. For mosquitoes, this means removing standing water where they lay eggs. Emptying containers, cleaning gutters, and ensuring proper drainage around your property can significantly reduce mosquito numbers. For other biting flies that breed in decaying organic matter, maintaining clean trash areas and removing moist organic debris is essential.
Personal Protection: When venturing outdoors, especially during peak fly activity times, take personal protective measures:
- Wear Protective Clothing: Long sleeves, pants, and hats can minimize exposed skin.
- Use Insect Repellents: Apply insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin to exposed skin and clothing, following product instructions carefully.
- Limit Outdoor Exposure: Avoid being outdoors during dawn and dusk when many biting flies are most active.
- Use Screens: Ensure windows and doors have well-maintained screens to prevent flies from entering your home.
Professional Pest Control: For persistent biting fly problems, consider contacting a professional pest control service. They can accurately identify the specific biting fly species causing issues and implement targeted and effective control strategies tailored to your situation. While we recommend contacting Orkin for expert fly control, consulting any qualified pest management professional can provide relief from biting fly infestations.
