BLACK FLIES

We started filling the boxes for the Square Foot Garden early
Saturday mixing equal quantities of peat moss, soil and
Vermiculite. The morning was bright and sunny and we were
looking forward to accomplishing the task, our enjoyment
was quickly curtailed when we were discovered by a horde
of black flies.

All the years we spent in the North we never experienced
black flies, in fact were slightly suspicious of their
reputation. Mosquitoes rarely bothered us, while they'd
settle on anyone walking near by.

Heading for the shelter of the cottage, we searched out
a head net and wide brimmed hat. Never having used a net
before we put it on then added the hat, the black flies
soon discovered our mistake and had lunch. We retreated
again and this time got it right with the net over the
hat. Normally we do not go to these lengths but it seemed
necessary as we needed to get the garden boxes filled.
Remembering too from experience at Dog Workshops, that
heavily scented shampoos and soaps make one susceptible

Doing some consultation on Black Flies, discovered that
light coloured clothing is preferable, our unfortunate
Great Dane is black and is constantly being chased by
the hungry flies. We also learned that there are at
least one hundred and ten species in Canada and the
female insect belonging to order Diptera, family
Simuliidae is the one with the damaging toothed stylets
that bite, not the male.

In the forest industry workers in Quebec and British
Columbia ask for black fly control in their contract.
Livestock [like our poor dog] suffer and in 1944-1947
during a bad outbreak of the pests inn Saskatchewan
1100 cattle were killed by a species that carries a
toxin in its saliva.

How to survive? We remember reading in D.B.O.Savile's
book "Collection and Care of Botanical Specimens"
advice to young plant collectors heading into the
Northern regions to "develop a philisophical attitude"
that you would never be sucked dry and to use a
repellent where the protective net met your collar,
tuck your pants into your socks.

Further information on the Black Fly can be found
on Alberta Agriculture's website and in the Canadian
Encyclopedia by R. A. Brust.

The good news: black flies are supposed be more
attentive early in the morning, after a rain or
early in the evening. Best of all we have heard
that black flies are the creature that fertilizes
blueberries.