Clean Water Means More Black Flies!

True Mainers can joke about the black fly being the official Maine State Bird. It’s only with a touch of dry Downeast humor that the bravest Maine resident can endure the Bug season which resides between Mud Season (Spring) and Not Winter (Summer). The dreaded Black Fly always travels in unending numbers, knows exactly where to strike to draw the most blood and cause the largest rash, and can penetrate any bug screen known to mankind. If it seems that the Black Fly is supernatural in its abilities, it’s more likely that their sheer numbers in Maine have increased due to an unlikely unintended consequence.

According to an article in the Boston Globe, the efforts of the Clean Water Act have resulted in environmental conditions that have led to healthy populations of the Black Fly in Maine. The clean, clear waters of Maine’s rivers and streams are perfect breeding areas for Black Flies, making Maine a virtual Eden for these pesky gnats.

So, when you’re wading through a hoard of Black Flies, just try to remember that their presence is a positive indicator of Maine’s healthy environment, and perhaps well worth such hardships to those who value our State’s natural beauty.