Black fly larvae are really tiny. When they attach to rocks, driftwood or plants in groups of thousands, they look more like black slime than individual animals.
A black fly larva looks like a bowling pin. It attaches at one end, and uses nets or little fans to catch bits of food floating by.
The adult black flies are sometimes called buffalo gnats. They are small and get in your eyes, ears, mouth and nose. They usually don’t bite humans, but do bite horses, cattle, deer and other wildlife.
Black fly larvae can tolerate fairly poor water conditions.
Cool Fact:
When black fly eggs hatch , the larvae often float downstream trailing silky threads that may be 3 feet long. These threads eventually catch on rocks or logs, where the larvae attach themselves.
