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Eye-Biting Flies Explode in San Gabriel Valley
27 Mar
Summary
- Tiny black flies are swarming and biting residents in the San Gabriel Valley.
- Historic warm winter rainfall and heatwave caused fly population to explode.
- Vector control district is treating breeding sites weekly with early treatments.
Residents in the San Gabriel Valley are enduring relentless swarms of tiny, eye-biting black flies. These minuscule pests have become a significant nuisance, with individuals reporting daily bites on their eyes and necks.
The current year has seen an unprecedented surge in the black fly population, a phenomenon linked to a combination of a historically warm winter and a recent late-winter heatwave. These conditions have created larger breeding grounds, with trap counts indicating a population explosion.
Officials from the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District are working to mitigate the issue. They have increased efforts to locate and treat breeding sites along the river, initiating their treatment season much earlier than typically required.
To protect themselves from the painful bites, residents are advised to use insect repellent containing DEET and wear loose, light-colored clothing. Some families have experienced severe allergic reactions to the multiple bites, causing significant distress.
