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Maine Gardening

Is it just me? What are these little black flies??!

19 years ago

Every time I go outside late in the season, like September through the end of this month, when the temps are in the mid fifties or higher I get swarmed by these tiny black flies. They don't bite like the bigger variety, they just swarm around my face and fly directly into my eyes. It makes autumn planting season really miserable! But they don't seem to bother anybody else- my daughter plays happily two feet away from me while I'm swatting and cleaning my eyes. Does anyone else have these annoying flies and what are they??

Comments (2)

The_Dollmaker
19 years ago
Midges maybe? I agree they are annoying. They bother me when I am out walking too. I think they like my shampoo or something. I notice that when there is a breeze they don't swarm, same as blackflies. If there's no breeze, I get good results by wearing a hat that has bug spray on the brim. Then I refresh the bug spray every hour or so.
gardengardengardenga
19 years ago
I noticed them, too! I had at first thought they were ashes from a neighboring fireplace floating in the air- much like drifting snowflakes. Even my little kids complained about them, while no one actually got bit we are still recovering from mosquito and blackfly season mentality at my house! So into the house the kids run afraid of getting bit. lol
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