Deer Fly
All About the Deer Fly
The deer fly is sometimes referred to as the yellow fly or the pine fly. They are blood-sucking insects that belong to the family of the horse fly. Their wings have dark markings on them, and their body is dark or tan. They also have easily discernible green or gold eyes.
Bites from the deer fly can be painful not only to pets and livestock, but people as well. On humans, deer fly bites can swell into red-colored sores, and in some people, their bite causes an allergic reaction. The female deer fly is usually the only one that bites – she secures nutrients from blood while the male collects pollen. She uses her sharp mandibles to make a cross-shaped incision in the animals she bites, and then laps up the blood. Deer flies are thought to be able to carry the diseases tularemia and anthrax.
The different species of the deer fly breed at various times of year. When the adults are active, they tend to congregate around ponds or in gardens, and in other natural areas, and they generally drive people in the area indoors.
Adult deer flies live from spring to fall, but each separate species has its own peak period. They are usually active during the day, except for a few species that feed after dark. Adult deer flies can and do fly a mile or more from the area where they breed.
The deer fly deposits her eggs around swamps, ponds, lakes or bays. She lays clusters of black, shiny eggs on water plants. Most deer fly larvae are found in wetlands or on water. The larvae eat insects, and their natural enemies include birds, spiders, wasps and dragonflies.
Most deer fly activity happens on days with a lot of sun and very little wind. If it gets cooler abruptly, as when a storm front approaches, it will usually reduce the biting attacks by the deer fly. Deer flies appear to be attracted to dark shapes and moving objects. If they attack humans, they generally attack around your neck and face.
People who are picnicking, hiking or camping should take steps to protect themselves from deer flies, with repellents such as Deet, Off or permethrin. You can purchase nylon head nets to keep insects like the deer fly away from your face and neck, but not impede your vision. Bug-Off jackets repel deer flies without the mess of aerosols or bottles of repellents. Gloves are also a good idea during deer fly season, as well as long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Light colors attract deer flies less than dark colors.
The deer fly can be a pesky and painful insect, but luckily, they are not around for very long each summer season.