(Diptera: Bibionidae)
Issue No. 102
L. A. Hetrick
November, 1970
Introduction
Since 1965, high populations of this fly have occurred over the northern half of peninsular Florida. This is a native insect that has apparently been present in this area in insignificant numbers. The reasons for the current “population explosions” are unknown. Public attention is attracted to these insects in May and September when the adults are in flight in large numbers. The flies are harmless and neither sting nor bite. As motorists travel our highways they strike the drifting and flying pairs of flies; these spatter and adhere to the fronts of vehicles. They are a nuisance and may require frequent stops to clean windshields, lights, grills, radiators, etc. Populations are equally high over fields, woods, and lakes as they are along highways. Flights of the flies have been encountered by light airplanes at altitudes up to 1500 feet.