And the black flies, the little black flies
Always the black fly no matter where you go
I’ll die with the black fly a-pickin’ my bones
— The Black Fly Song, by Wade Hemsworth
Those of us who live in the northern woods are “blessed” with black fly season. In this neck of the woods, black fly season is mercifully short, lasting roughly from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day. The farther north one goes, the longer the season lasts.
Black flies hang out in the duff on the ground in the woods. From there, they ascend to attack any warm-blooded creature who dares enter their domain. This behavior makes the wild flower photographer who must lay on the ground in said woods a prime target for these blood-thirsty creatures.
However, properly equipped with a full blown bug jacket, photographs can be made*.
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* Even though looking into the viewfinder through the no-see-um mesh of a bug jacket is less than desirable.
Goldthread (Coptis trifolia)
Comment by Joan — 15 May 2016 @ 1:12 PM