Why so many flys up in the Catskills this year?

[paul ron]

I've noticed in the past few years there have been an unusual amount of flys up in the Catskills during the early part of spring. Well this weekend a friend mentioned that the DEC has been using these flys as a way to control the tent catapillars so I looked it up and found this...

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/ftc/tentcat.htm

and in more detail, the fly itself

http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_flies/TACHINIDAE.htm

 

[Mark Schaefer]

The growth in some fly and parasite populations follow the growth in the caterpillar population. I don't believe the DEC is introducing anything to control, except perhaps in some limited experiments. The population growth and collapse cycles in the native eastern and forest tent caterpillars are normal. In general there are about three peak years of infestation and then the population collapses. Any large effort to control the caterpillar population would be generally ineffective, and potentially might lengthen the number of years of peak infestation which would prolong the stress on the trees.

Some more information on the caterpillars from the DEC website, and a 2007 forecast. There is also some guidance for property owners wishing to control the caterpillars on their property.