Is there a correlation...black flies...snow pack

[Mike]

Does anyone know if there is any correlation between the number of pests (black flies, mosquitos, etc) emerging in the spring and the depth of the winter snowpack? Seems like if there is very little snow pack, like right now in the Whites, then those little sleeping pests are not as protected from the cold and, as a result, there would fewer of them coming out (to bite us!) when the weather turns warmer.

 

[Trout]

Sounds like "wishful thinking" to me. Once the heat comes on & the water is flowing those little buggers will be out too greet us all on the the trail & elsewhere.

 

[Rick]

I would tend to think that with less snowpack, the larvae have either lower water levels or warmer water levels that would tend to cause stress in their environment, thus limiting their numbers. Since larvae typically need cold, fast moving and extremely clean/clear water, the reduced water levels could mean slower moving water and shorten the amount of time the larvae have to grow and feed as they move through their instar stages (all that entimology studying paid off )

Also an earlier loss of snowpack could mean less reflection of the sun and more absorption of heat into the ground this spring. Warmer ground = warmer air and warmer water, all of which are environmental stresses to the larvae.

(Disclaimer - This is all stuff I learned years ago in Pest Control, and I trhink most of it holds true. I am always open to any other thoughts !!! )

 

[Stan]

Most of those wee biting beasties are more dependent upon water ... ponds, pools, vernal pools, puddles etc. ... than on anything else. Lot's of snow means more wet spots into the spring and early summer.

 

[Peakbagr]

I believe the black flies breed in moving water.
Its been my experience that when there is a light snow winter, its usually an easy black fly season due to a light runoff. It you receive a wet, damp Spring, then the light snow pack doesn't matter.

 

[Rick]

It you receive a wet, damp Spring, then the light snow pack doesn't matter.

Aaargh!! Rain!!!!!!!!!! DOH!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pete_Hickey]

I believe the black flies breed in moving water.

FAST moving COLD water. Opposite of mosquitos.

I remember one year... 5-6 years ago... when there was also a light snowpack...We were expecting a dry spring, but something happened. Most of the month of May was cold and cloudy. The light snow cover remained for quite some time, melting steadly, producing ideal conditions for blackflies.

Then there was another year (inthe Adirondacks at least), when my son and I went down for skiing in mid feb, and there was no snow. We went back the following week to grab some easy winter peaks, and there had been several feet of snow that week (so we skied) The heavy snow continued that year, and spring arrived with quite a snopack. We were able to ski Marcy's summit to Indian Falls on the Memorial Day weekend. Moral of that is don't measure your winter snowfall before it's dumped.

 

[Mad Townie]

Everyone is right.

Black flies breed in fast moving, clean, cold water. Mosquitoes breed in still water, like pools or even puddles inside old tires.

So if you want to reduce the number of black flies, increase pollution!

Bottom line is you can't always get what you want. I guess I'll take the bugs with their accompaniment.

 

[Mr. X]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that there will be a 90% chance of suffering this spring on the trail.