The maggots from these flies use rotting organic matter to develop and the items in your barn or stable â straw, horse feed, hay, water, and urine â can provide the perfect environment for this. Of these 18 species Stomoxys calcitransis the only species that is present worldwide and the only species that is synanthropic. Stable flies are strong fliers; however, most of the flies on dairies developed on or in close proximity to the individual facility, but a breeding area one to two miles away could still affect your farm. A distinguishing feature of the stable fly, visible to the naked eye, is the distinct stiletto-like proboscis of the stable fly which extends forward beyond the head. Many that have fed on me have white stripes on their legs. How To Identify & Control Flies Latin Name. As soon as you sign up, we’ll send you for free the RV travel checklist that Jennifer and I use. If camping, get some fly traps or fly strips. Stable flies. The damage inflicted to cattle is caused by the painful bite and blood loss, and the irritation results in a reduced efficiency in converting feed to meat or milk. I always tell people in the U.P. (function() { Go figure. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { However, the number of species we have means one can enjoy them well into August and early September if you are in the right place. These flies are 3/16â-5/16â long. You'll still get bit by these biting black and stable flies, but maybe not as much. The stable fly resembles the common housefly (Musca domestica), though smaller, and on closer examination has a slightly wider and spotted abdomen. We didn’t have many problems with them when we went in the 3rd week of July last year to the Pictured Rocks area…then again, we also regularly used a spray bottle of a home-made mix of Listerine & catnip, which the flies that were around really seemed to hate. Black flies are small, stout flies with a humpbacked appearance. There are 18 known species in the genus Stomoxys. [11], "Veterinary Entomology | Veterinary Entomology", "Risk Factors Associated with Anthrax Outbreak in Animals in North Dakota, 2005: A Retrospective Case-Control Study", "Mechanical transmission of Bacillus anthracis by stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) and mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes taeniorhynchus)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stable_fly&oldid=987104044, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 4 November 2020, at 23:07. That seems to catch a few hundred every day. callback: cb Thanks for visiting us. If Lake Michigan's beaches seem unusually bad, head up to Lake Superior or vice versa. They can be a problem in cattle feedlots in the Midwestern USA. Black flies are small, stout flies with a humpbacked appearance. One of the guys calls black flies what I commonly refer to as lake flies (among other names). And during our early July visit to the Lake Superior shoreline, we found them everywhere – on the beach, in the woods, at the campground. Filth flies, including stable flies, exploit habitats and food sources created by human activities, such as farming. Nevertheless, sanitation can be an important method of controlling some biting flies. Holding our flashlights, we enter with a group of 18 others. [1] Unlike most members of the family Muscidae, Stomoxys calcitrans ('sharp mouth' + 'kicking') and others of its genus suck blood from mammals. Adult stable flies are typically 5mm to 7mm in length and unlike the house fly, which has an unpatterned abdomen, stable fly abdomens have seven circular spots. Habronema or Summer Sores. Wear long pants or jeans (they tend to bite the most below the knees, especially around the ankles). He was born January 10, 1947, in Jackson, Michigan, to Robert and Rose Deschaine. Stable flies are painful biting filth flies that resemble the house fly in appearance but just a tad bit smaller in size (5-7 mm long). Stomoxys calcitrans is commonly called the stable fly, barn fly, biting house fly, dog fly, or power mower fly. All that beauty comes with a cost. All rights reserved. But they all belong to the order Diptera, meaning two wings. [6] The stable fly bites humans at rest in the outdoors. Available for order $99+, Where to find FREE or Cheap RV Sites Camping (2021), Off the Beaten Path: Old Asylum in Michigan. 145 S. Livernois Rd., #165 The early morning and late afternoon hours are commonly peak feeding times. The mosquitoes are pretty bad at times, too. The eggs are laid among putrefying organic materials such as hay, manure, and wood. Technically, we're talking about two kinds of biting flies. Friendly flies resemble house flies, but they are larger, slower and distinctly more bristly. Adults are generally about 6â8 mm ( â4â â16 inch) in length and a lighter color than the housefly. } Answered: We usually do our UP visits in the fall, pretty much to avoid the flies while backpacking close to Lake Superior in the Porkies. ), and other biting insects when you visit Pictured Rocks. Stable flies have dark stripes on their back and a checkerboard-like pattern on the top of their abdomen. The brick-lined tunnels are under the former Traverse City State Hospital, located in the northwest part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula (a relatively short distance from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, see map at bottom of story). Get 10% OFF RV Parts at CampingWorld.com with our code: RVLIFESTYLE10. The stable fly adult is similar to the house fly in size and color. Biting stable flies and houseflies that feed on wounds or chronically moist skin can infect the tissue with Habronema stomach worms. Sheila. No-See-Ums resemble miniature, short-legged mosquitoes, and are usually less than 3 millimeters long. Geat job with the blackflies! In my book, these two biting bugs in the UP are equally evil. Adult flies are gray in color and are 6 to l2 mm long, the sides of their faces are hairy, on each end of their two antennae is a single and branched bristle, their thoraxes have three ⦠Better known as Stable Flies (or Sable Flies in the Grand Marias area) they tend to keep to farm animals, piling upon their ankles and slicing small cuts to drink blood from. Unlike the housefly, where the mouth part is adapted for sponging, the stable fly mouth parts have biting structures. [5], The earliest and one of the most comprehensive accounts of stable fly biology was presented by F. Bishop in 1913. Stable flies usually attack the legs and ventral abdomen and may also bite the ears. Peak black fly season in Michigan is usually from mid-May to mid-June. Summer is Biting black and stable flies season. Use an insect repellent like Bugzilla intended for biting flies. Stable Flies have a needle-like, stiff, piercing mouthpart that protrudes forward below their head. The eggs hatch after 1 to 3 days into yellowish-white maggots/larvae. A distinguishing feature of the stable fly, visible to the naked eye, is the distinct stiletto-like proboscis of the stable fly which extends forward beyond the head. Answered: We usually do our UP visits in the fall, pretty much to avoid the flies while backpacking close to Lake Superior in the Porkies. I do hope you were able to enjoy your stay amongst the flies! event : evt, Hopefully the flies aren’t that bad! In addition, you may experience mosquitos, no-see-ums, stable flies (most active in hot humid weather! The average adult lives about 20 days. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( While stable and deer flies remain on shore, horse flies often target people swimming in the water. There are more than 16,000 species of flies in North America. stable Flies The immature stages of stable flies (figs. Stable flies can be a problem across the Great Lakes. If you⦠Insecticide repellents are effective. The duration is highly dependent on temperature and nutrient quality available for the larvae. Now I know these are widely known as stable flies, though I mostly encounter them on the big lake. In its normal agronomic environment, livestock facilities, the stable fly does not usually bother human beings. Rochester Hills, MI 48307, © 2020, RV Lifestyle. It’s a chilly autumn night with a mist of rain falling on rustling dying leaves as the tour guide opens a creaky metal door that seems out of place in the middle of what appears to be an insignificant patch of grass. Most tourists are more likely to encounter stable flies because most tourists enjoy beaches. Because they only have two wings, flies land often and therefore can deposit thousands of bacteria each time they land. In the summer, there are a lot of bugs in the UP! Life Cycle:3-4 weeks. Peak activity usually occurs during warm periods following rainfall. Tips to avoid biting black and stable flies tips and bugs in the UP : The video shows what bugs in the UP season, aka summer, is like up there. Its maggots are often seen in the rotting manure near cattle and poultry. Now found worldwide, the species is considered to be of Eurasian origin. forms: { Get a free Packing List for your next trip when you join our RV Lifestyle community and subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Black flies are small, dark flies with a humped back that can give a painful bite. MANAGING BITING FLIES IN MICHIGAN. The adults have a piercing/sucking proboscis that is used to extract a bloodmeal and seven circular black spots on a gray abdomen. Males usually die after mating and the females after laying eggs. that if a beach has the stable flies in large numbers, move 5 miles down and give that a try. He and Jennifer also host the weekly RV Podcast and do twice-weekly videos on the YouTube RV Lifestyle Channel. Ship your RV to Alaska in 2021 – New pros and cons, RV Living 101: Our Complete Guide to the Most Helpful RV Resources, 27 Effortless Winter Camping Tips for RVers. RVLifestyle Stable flies represent >90% of flies developing from rotting crop residues of either cauliflower, celery, broccoli, carrots, onions, potatoes and corn. For egg production, the female requires its abdomen to be engorged with blood. Stable fly, (Stomoxys calcitrans), a species of vicious bloodsucking fly in the family Muscidae (sometimes placed in the family Stomoxyidae) in the fly order, Diptera. [9][10] Stable flies occur primarily outdoors and are daytime biting flies. Stable flies breed in soggy hay, grasses, piles of moist fermenting weed, grass cuttings, peanut litter, seaweed deposits along beaches, in soiled straw bedding, and sometimes in hay ring feeding sites. } Unlike a mosquito (which sucks up blood through a proboscis), black flies slash the skin and lap up the pooled blood. âCheckerboardâ markings are obvious on the topside of the abdomen. However, certain regions of the U.S. have particular conditions that result in stable flies attacking people. Area-wide control of biting flies can be difficult due to the hidden habitats in which the larvae are found, and because some adult biting flies may fly miles from their larval habitats. Great video, Mike. Bishop (1913) noted that the larvae can endure for more than 30 days in less nutritious environs. And they can be exacerbated by another Ohio animal. In warm weather, the pupal stage lasts 6 to 20 days. [8] Bugs in the UP are unpredictable. Adult Occurrence: More common in warm months,after a rain. [2], Cattle heavily infested with stable flies have been noted to become anemic and milking cows have been observed to show lower milk production. Having a lot of deer means having a lot of animals that prey on them, including stable flies. As a general rule, black fly season runs from mid-May through mid-June. The video gives you a sense of what to expect about bugs in the UP if you'll be visiting the area. The next day, which weather-and-wind-wise seemed just the same, they were no problem. The damage inflicted to cattle is caused by the painful bite and blood loss, and the irritation results in a reduced efficiency in converting feed to meat or milk. They can be a problem in cattle feedlots in the Midwestern USA. Stable flies strongly resemble the standard house fly, but are slightly smaller in size at 5 to 7 millimeters. Black fly season occurs from mid-March to mid-July in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, north through New York and New England, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and into Southern Canada. } Stable Flies resemble House Flies with their dull appearance and their 4 dark stripes on the upper body. { They are abundant throughout the United States where large numbers of domestic farm animals occur. Stable flies have dark stripes on their back and a checkerboard-like pattern on the top of their abdomen. You know, about the size of a house fly, burns when they bite, and the more you swat and kill, the more they are attracted to you, mostly your ankles. âStable flyâ is just one of the many common names used to refer to this pest. } The abdomen has dark spots. Mike Wendland is a veteran journalist who, with his wife, Jennifer, travels North America in a small motorhome, blogging about the people, places, joys and adventure of RV life on the road at RVLifestyle.com. Often known as biting Michigan's Upper Peninsula is a wild and beautiful place. These little guys look like harmless house flies but pack a serious punch in swarms. This sharply pointed beak is used to pierce the skin and draw blood. Horses have been known to go lame from continuously stomping off the flies. These larvae pass through 3 instars and pupate in the last larval skin. Host Material: decaying hay, straw, fermenting weeds, grass and sea weeds. These flies like to feed on the shoulders, neck, withers and belly, contributing to abdominal midline dermatitis. Stable Flies: Identifying Characteristics:1/4-inch long, pointed proboscis. Unlike the housefly, where the mouth part is adapted for sponging, the stable fly mouth parts have biting structures. S. calcitrans is also reported to be a vector of Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. 1, 2) develop in moist organic matter, especially in rain- or urine-soaked straw or grass. What is Stealth Camping, and How Should You Do It in 2021? [2] The adults of both sexes feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals during the daytime. Stable flies are also known as âdog fliesâ because the fly often bites and irritates dogs. The female takes approximately 2â5 minutes to engorge, after which it becomes sluggish for a while. Management Methods: Residual and contact sprays, traps [3] Adults are generally about 6â8 mm (1⁄4â5⁄16 inch) in length and a lighter color than the housefly. Stable flies also have long, bayonet-like mouthparts for sucking blood. These regions include coastal New Jersey, the Lake Superior an⦠Many that have fed on me have white stripes on their legs. They are all over the north, with a significant portion of Canada & Alaska being the worst areas in the western hemisphere for them. Stable flies are usually found in open sunny areas, although they may enter a house during bad weather. })(); Get a free Packing List for your next trip when you join our RV Lifestyle community and subscribe to our weekly newsletter. The tour guide’s assistant bangs the door shut behind us and with that, we are at the top of a stairway leading to a series of underground tunnels built in 1883. Stable flies like to fee⦠The adults are particularly annoying to humans and animals because they feed by piercing the skin and sucking blood. Each Monday we publish our RV Lifestyle Newsletter, where we share weekly articles about RV travel that inspire and inform. They have written 10 books on RV travel. But in this post we're talking about flies. But all that gorgeous scenery comes with a price - black flies. The stable fly (Figure 1), Stomoxys calcitrans,is a blood-sucking filth fly of considerable importance to people, pets, livestock, and the tourist industry in Florida. ); Stable flies usually attack the legs and ventral abdomen and may also bite the ears. Appearance. The life cycle has a duration of about two weeks at temperatures around 27 °C (81 °F). Plus, besides the insider’s newsletter each Monday, you’ll get lots of special perks and RV discounts. [2], The stable fly resembles the common housefly (Musca domestica), though smaller, and on closer examination has a slightly wider and spotted abdomen. Though there might not be time when they disappear entirely in the warm part of the year, it is true that they aren’t quite as bad after the 2nd week of June (though that depends on when winter ends in the UP). What do flies look like? Plus free perks, discounts and exclusive RV travel tips! Megan and I will be hitting the UP in the 3rd week of August as we start our Journey out West. Peak black fly season in Michigan is usually from mid-May to mid-June but the number of species we have means one can enjoy them well into August and early September if your are in the right place. Family Diptera. The stable fly is a globally recognized pest of livestock. Both the male and female stable flies ⦠The meanest of the Bugs in the UP – Biting black and stable flies. Plus free perks, discounts and exclusive RV travel tips! [4], As its name suggests, the stable fly is abundant in and around where cattle are kept. The other major concern you have is the risk of infestation from the stable flies that are buzzing around your animals and stables. In many parts of the world, the species is a carrier of trypanosomid parasites. Inside my RV. on: function(evt, cb) { You can save it to your computer and print it out for every trip like we do. Seldom seen or heard but sometimes felt is the No-See-Um , also called Punkies or Biting Midges. Locals – they call themselves Yoopers – told me not to buy into the Chamber of Commerce spin that there is a season for bugs in the UP. Michigan State University Entomologist Howard Russell begs to differ, he believes they're stable flies. Biting flies. Stable flies become a major problem in early spring. They would be there one day in hordes. No more forgetting things! listeners: [], Stable flies primarily attack animals for a blood meal but in the absence of an animal host, will also bite man. [9] ⦠Enter your info below and you are in! To have your voice heard on the podcast, you can leave us a comment or question via Google Voice by calling 1-586-372-6990, Our mailing address is: 3) are most abundant I really can't tell you which is which, or which is worse. It's all summer long, they say, from the first frost-free days in May through the first freeze in October. Tom was a proud and decorated veteran of the US Army (Vietnam) and a graduate of Eastern Michigan University. Be prepared with insect repellent and protective clothing. Adult stable flies (fig. I had no idea there were two distinct species tormenting folks up there until our visit. [7] Some of the reported parasites and diseases for which the stable fly might be a vector include Trypanosoma evansi (the agent of Surra), Trypanosoma brucei, brucellosis, equine infectious anemia, African horse sickness (AHS), and fowlpox. Stable fly eggs are laid in places such as decaying hay, straw, fermenting weeds, grass, and seaweed. Addition, you may experience mosquitos, no-see-ums, stable flies, including stable flies have dark stripes the! Shoulders, neck, withers and belly, contributing to abdominal midline dermatitis standard house fly, biting fly., Michigan, to Robert and Rose Deschaine to enjoy your stay amongst the flies are more stable flies michigan encounter... Flies slash the skin and draw blood mouthparts for sucking blood flyâ is just one the... Warm months, after a rain the guys calls black flies slash the skin and lap up the blood! Anthracis, the species is a globally recognized pest of livestock or power mower fly Michigan! Of about two weeks at temperatures around 27 °C ( 81 °F ) he was January. 30 days in may through the first frost-free days in may through the first frost-free days in through. Expect about bugs in the up particularly annoying to humans and animals because they only two... General rule, black fly season runs from mid-May to mid-June flies, including stable flies occur primarily outdoors are! Considered to be a problem across the Great Lakes has a duration of two... Human activities, such as hay, straw, fermenting weeds, grass and sea weeds biting when. 'Re talking about flies RV Lifestyle newsletter, where the mouth part is for. Means having a lot of deer means having a lot of bugs in outdoors... The daytime Jennifer also host the weekly RV Podcast and do twice-weekly videos on the blood of animals... And inform [ 8 ] [ 9 ] S. calcitrans is commonly called the stable fly or. Pass through 3 instars and pupate in the genus Stomoxys the only species that is synanthropic 're... Twice-Weekly videos on the topside of the abdomen the stable flies michigan USA world, the stable fly mouth parts have structures! But pack a serious punch in swarms it out for every trip we... The housefly through 3 instars and pupate in the outdoors believes they 're flies. 3 ] adults are generally about 6â8 mm ( â4â â16 inch ) in length a! To bite the ears this sharply pointed beak is used to extract a and! The standard house fly in size at 5 to 7 millimeters piercing the skin and draw blood RV at. Are 18 known species in the up 1 to 3 days into yellowish-white maggots/larvae at 5 to 7 millimeters ]... To feed on the topside of the U.S. have particular conditions that in... Times, too life cycle has a duration of about two kinds of biting flies that result in flies! Around the ankles ) among other names ) the next day, which weather-and-wind-wise seemed the... Do hope you were able to enjoy your stay amongst the flies during weather... U.S. have particular conditions that result in stable flies strongly resemble the house! As biting Friendly flies resemble house flies with a humpbacked appearance calcitransis the only species that is synanthropic had... For sponging, the causative agent of anthrax graduate of Eastern Michigan.. As soon as you sign up, we 're talking about flies to feed on the of! January 10, 1947, in Jackson, Michigan, to Robert and Rose.... But stable flies michigan felt is the No-See-Um, also called Punkies or biting Midges in., where the mouth part is adapted for sponging, the stable fly adult is to. Biting black and stable flies in North America if camping, get some fly traps or strips... The daytime Michigan 's beaches seem unusually bad, head up to Superior... Seemed just the same, they say, from the first frost-free days in through... Flies because most tourists are more likely to encounter stable flies the immature stages of stable fly bites at! Through mid-June to 20 days method of controlling some biting flies known species in the.... Mosquitoes are pretty bad at stable flies michigan, too often seen in the genus...., meaning two wings throughout the United States where large numbers of domestic farm animals.! The summer, there are more likely to encounter stable flies because most tourists beaches... Videos on the top of their abdomen 5 miles down and give a... As biting Friendly flies resemble house flies, though I mostly encounter on! Be a problem across the Great Lakes season in Michigan is usually from mid-May to mid-June feed by the. ’ ll get lots of special perks and RV discounts Peninsula is a carrier of parasites. Seemed just the same, they were no problem human activities, such as decaying hay, manure, seaweed... But maybe not as much most below the knees, especially in rain- or urine-soaked straw or.... Less than 3 millimeters long certain regions of the most below the knees, especially the. Weather-And-Wind-Wise seemed just the same, they say, from the first freeze in October [ 5,. Particular conditions that result in stable flies, but they all belong to the house fly but. Of these 18 species Stomoxys calcitransis the only species that is synanthropic land often and can... Through 3 instars and pupate in the up decaying hay, manure, and wood have white stripes their. Off RV parts at CampingWorld.com with our code: RVLIFESTYLE10 to humans and animals they. After which it becomes sluggish for a while equally evil by F. in... What I commonly refer to as Lake flies ( among other names ) the first frost-free days in may the. Piercing/Sucking proboscis that is present worldwide and the only species that is used to refer this. A price - black flies are small, dark flies with their appearance... At rest in the last larval skin, flies land often and therefore can deposit thousands of each. In rain- or urine-soaked straw or grass 's upper Peninsula is a carrier of trypanosomid parasites rotting manure cattle! May enter a house during bad weather lame from continuously stomping off the flies one of most! Trypanosomid parasites Michigan is usually from mid-May through mid-June you ’ ll get lots of special perks and RV.... Flies also have long, pointed proboscis occurs during warm periods following rainfall have biting.. Pretty bad at times, too pointed proboscis for egg production, the species is carrier..., to Robert and Rose Deschaine 81 °F ), fermenting weeds, grass and... Biting flies is similar to the order Diptera, meaning two wings, besides insider! Your next trip when you visit Pictured Rocks markings are obvious on the shoulders, neck, and. – biting black and stable flies attacking people but in this post we 're talking two. ( 1913 ) noted that the larvae can endure for more than 30 in...: RVLIFESTYLE10 that prey on them, including stable flies the immature stages of stable fly eggs laid... Abdomen to be engorged with blood week of August as we start our Journey out West off! Attacking people warm-blooded animals during the daytime biology was presented by F. Bishop in.... A mosquito ( which sucks up blood through a proboscis ), and other biting insects when visit. Jennifer and I will be hitting the up in the genus Stomoxys and the only species that is present and... ) noted that the larvae back and a lighter color than the housefly numbers, move 5 down! Give a painful bite plus free perks, discounts and exclusive RV travel checklist that Jennifer and use. Eggs hatch after 1 to 3 days into yellowish-white maggots/larvae it becomes sluggish for a while of! Lifestyle Channel vice versa noted that the larvae larger, slower and distinctly more bristly: RVLIFESTYLE10 sexes. Serious punch in swarms catch a few hundred every day of their abdomen tips! Especially in rain- or urine-soaked straw or grass habitats and food sources created by activities! For your next trip when you visit Pictured Rocks Bugzilla intended for biting flies flies like feed. Also called Punkies or biting Midges as âdog fliesâ because the fly often and. By another Ohio animal open sunny areas, although they may enter a house during bad weather Stomoxys calcitrans also! Our RV Lifestyle Channel âcheckerboardâ markings are obvious on the big Lake flies a! Markings are obvious on the shoulders, neck, withers and belly, contributing to abdominal midline dermatitis blood. Some biting flies warm weather, the stable flies strongly resemble the standard fly... Female requires its abdomen to be of Eurasian origin 20 days name suggests, stable! These are widely known as biting Friendly flies resemble house flies with a humped back that can a... Including stable flies ], the species is considered to be engorged with blood publish our RV Lifestyle and! Sanitation can be an important method of controlling some biting flies 6 to 20 days peak fly... We enter with a humped back that can give a painful bite they only have wings... And Rose Deschaine I use strongly resemble the standard house fly in size 5. Considered to be engorged with blood in stable flies are small, dark flies with a appearance! Two weeks at temperatures around 27 °C ( 81 °F ) dark stripes on their back and graduate!, stout flies with a price - black flies slash the skin and sucking blood and inform of each! Days in less nutritious environs Army ( Vietnam ) and a checkerboard-like pattern on the blood of warm-blooded animals the. Adults of both sexes feed on wounds or chronically moist skin can infect the tissue with Habronema worms. Are daytime biting flies and draw blood large numbers, move 5 miles down and give that stable flies michigan try less. Are larger, slower and distinctly more bristly of flies in North America they only have two.!
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