Who Will Save Us From The Lake Flies??

It’s been nearly 2 weeks since annual early spring hatch of lake flies (Non-Biting Midges) at Devil’s Lake State Park. Since then, clouds of bugs have been swarming around near the lakeshore, especially along south shore road! But don’t give up hope! Their days are numbered!

Keep in mind, lake flies don’t bite or sting, (They are also not to be confused with mayflies or mosquitos.) and they do have a role to play.

The clouds of lake flies provide a much-needed food source for the parks bird population right at the end of the migration season when they most need it. They also provide early season energy for fish as well. So, as much as we hate the pesky things, they are a necessary part of our environment.

Already the number of lake flies has gone down quite a bit, so just hang in there. They’ll soon be gone. Oh, and if you get a chance to watch the swallows out hunting them down in front of the North Shore Chateau, well, it’s pretty amazing!