Big black flies on the attack

Описание: Minnesotans love to be outdoors during the summer. But there's a flying pest that's trying to ruin all the fun and we're not talking about mosquitoes.

"I had maybe like 20 around my head," said Sam Anderson of Plymouth. His little brother, J.J., said "I got 6,600 on my legs."

Well, that maybe an exaggeration, but Sam and J.J. are referring to black flies that are making their presence known everywhere. Black flies tend to swarm around a person's face because they are attracted to carbon dioxide in the breath.

Black flies, also known as biting gnats, use their blade-like mouth parts to cut through skin and feed on blood. They deliver a big bite, but the worst part seems to be the after-bite itch.

"They really itch a lot. But you shouldn't itch them because the bumps can get really bigger and then they can get infected," said Max Heitkamp of Brooklyn Park.

Black flies are thriving because of the excessive rain contributing to high, running water, where black flies love to breed. It's also hard to prevent black flies from biting. You can protect your skin by wearing long sleeves and pants. The pest is attracted to dark colors, so light-colored clothing works best.

Karla Buerkle of Plymouth has also had to swat a few biting gnats while on her daily walks through French park.

"I think when you got near trees or wooded that's when you see them, but I just go through it fast when you walk or run and it's fine," said Buerkle.


Sonya Goins, reporting

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Channel 12 is on Comcast cable in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis and includes the cities Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.