Make the Most Out of the Outdoors this Summer
As temperatures rise and outdoor adventures fill our calendars, many of us look forward to spending more time in nature. Whether you’re hiking a trail, paddling a river or relaxing in your backyard, summer also brings encounters with some less welcome visitors: mosquitoes and black flies.
While their bites can be irritating, these insects are a natural part of healthy ecosystems across the Credit River Watershed. Learning a little about how they live, why they bite and how to reduce your exposure can help you spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time swatting at the air.
Mosquito and Black Fly Basics
Mosquitoes and black flies are both types of flies. Like all flies, they have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. One difference between them is where they lay their eggs. Both mosquito and black fly larvae develop in the water but mosquitoes need standing water and black flies need running water.
Adult female mosquitoes and black flies are the only ones that feed on blood, which they need to have enough energy to lay their eggs. Both males and females feed on plant nectar, which is where most of their nutrition comes from.
How to Make the Most of Your Time Outdoors
Learning to live with mosquitoes and black flies is easier with a little knowledge. Black flies are only active during the day, and the peak biting times are usually in early morning and early evening. Mosquitoes are also most active at dusk and dawn. Restricting your outdoor activities to midday or later in the evenings will help to reduce your exposure and annoyance.
During outside activities, wearing light-coloured clothing or a bug jacket can be effective in preventing bites. In addition, tucking your pants into your socks and your shirt into your pants can help prevent mosquitoes and black flies from crawling under your clothes to get to your skin. Using personal insect repellents, following the latest directions from Health Canada, is also a tried-and-true defence against biting flies.
When spending time outdoors at home, consider using a screen shelter during peak biting times. Fans can also help reduce mosquito activity, as mosquitoes are weak fliers and struggle to land in moving air.
The most effective way to reduce mosquito populations is to prevent them from breeding in the first place. Local public health agencies monitor mosquito populations and treat municipal catch basins and other breeding areas to target larvae before they become adults.
Around your property, regularly empty standing water from items such as old tires, children’s pools, watering cans and buckets. Store containers upside down or drill drainage holes to prevent water from collecting. If you have a pond, adding an aerator can help discourage mosquito breeding. Refreshing bird bath water at least once a week as well.
Keep the Bigger Picture in Mind
Mosquitoes and black flies play important roles in local food webs. Their larvae provide food for fish, waterfowl and other aquatic wildlife, while adults become prey for birds, dragonflies and other insect-eating species. Mosquitoes can also contribute to pollination when feeding on nectar. Black flies are particularly important indicators of clean, well-oxygenated water because they are highly sensitive to pollution and environmental changes. Scientists often use their presence to help assess the health of aquatic ecosystems.
While mosquitoes and black flies may be a familiar part of summer, understanding their role in nature and taking a few simple precautions can help you spend more time enjoying the outdoors. Whether you’re visiting a conservation area, exploring a local trail or relaxing in your backyard, a little preparation can help you focus on the beauty of the season.
Learn more about pollinators and other insects in the Credit River Watershed.
By Laura Timms, Program Manager, Natural Heritage Management