Another plague has been unleashed on western Manitoba this year.
An insect known as biting midge, black fly, sand fly or no-see-ums has been driving people and livestock in southwestern Manitoba to distraction since the middle of June.
“They’re just a nightmare,” said Melissa Atchison, Manitoba Agriculture livestock specialist in Melita, Man.
“I’ve been processing (cattle) and they’re all over you. They’re everywhere.… You get (them) behind your sunglasses and up your nose. They leave quite big welts, too.”
It’s hard to know for certain without seeing the insect up close, but Manitoba government entomologist John Gavloski said the tiny flies are likely biting midge.
“We don’t usually see a tremendous amount (of them), but with all the rain this year, we’re seeing more of them,” he said.
“If it’s tiny black flies, it’s usually black flies or biting midge…. The biting midge is fly-like… but not a black fly. That’s probably the best way to describe it.”
Gavloski said the tiny flies aren’t a disease threat to humans but are extremely annoying because they aren’t deterred by insect repellent.
Atchison said they don’t transmit disease to cattle but can cause production losses.
“They just drive (the cattle) crazy. They will mill around in the corner of a pen … and they’re not always out eating grass, like they should be,” she said.
“They are really no huge danger, but (the flies) can chew their ears till they are bleeding, and their udders.”
Producers should take the usual steps to protect their animals, such as putting out oilers and making sure there is bush on the pasture so that cattle can rub and get some relief.
She said another option is to apply a systemic insecticide such as Silencer or Boss on bulls.
“It’s a little expensive to put on your whole herd … (but) we like to put (insecticide) on the bulls to keep them a bit comfortable because they’re working pretty hard.”
