ATTACK OF THE BLACK FLIES!

There is a price one must pay to enjoy the beauty of the remote wilderness of British Columbia. It is the Black Fly, insect belonging to order Diptera, family Simuliidae. Black flies occur nearly anywhere that rivers and streams are present for immature stages, including arctic regions, and are especially abundant in northern wooded regions. Larvae live in flowing water, gathering fine particulate food by straining the water with their head fans. Larvae attach to rocks or vegetation and complete development in 3-14 days, depending on water temperatures and availability of food. Pupae are inactive and do not feed. Adults may emerge from any water depth, floating upward in a bubble of air generated during emergence. They are ready to fly when they break the surface. Average life span is about 3 weeks.
In Canada, black flies cause human suffering and are a scourge to livestock. In Northern Alberta, weight loss in cattle caused by the black fly attacks in one outbreak (1971) amounted to 45 kg per animal; 973 animals were killed in one area alone. Black flies are a nuisance to humans. For example, forest workers in northern BC and Québec demand black fly control as part of their work contract. Females have biting mouth parts with toothed stylets for cutting skin. Males do not bite and are rarely observed. Both sexes require nectar for flight energy; females use blood for egg development.

Because of the unusually high temperature in the last week there were huge amounts of black flies in the area. They are tenacious and bite through your clothing. This photo is taken on Daniel's electric fly swatter that he calls "Old Sparky" named after the electric chair in a New York prison.
This is another corpse killed by Daniel out of revenge for the 28 bites he has endured!
Notice the cutting teeth on her mouth that she uses to take chunks of flesh!