Caution! Swarms of Blood-Sucking Gnats on the Rise in Arkansas

It may be time to invest in a bug zapper because if you haven't heard black flies or buffalo gnats are expected to be really bad this season in Arkansas and throughout the South. Now that the warmer weather is here these pests are on the rise in the natural state.

Buffalo gnats or black flies are really a nuisance when you are doing any kind of outdoor activity such as a cookout, picnicking, or swimming in the pool. According to Randy Zellers with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission getting bitten by a black fly is completely different from a mosquito bite because they leave a bigger mark and you can really feel their bite so much more.

Any type of exposed skin is subject to being bitten by these blood-sucking flies, and the bite can be painful and cause swelling and itching almost immediately.

So if you are thinking of floating the Arkansas rivers this spring and summer it's best you bring plenty of bug repellant to avoid keeping these pests away from you or you will find yourself swatting more than paddling than enjoying your summer fun.

Black Flies or buffalo gnats are normally found around large bodies of water which tend to be their breeding grounds. Moving water is especially hard to treat, according to the Urban Entomology at the University of Arkansas Extensions Division of Agriculture. Buffalo gnats (black flies) are not only a nuisance to humans but livestock and poultry as well and in some cases can cause death to cattle and poultry.

In 2018, Arkansas got hit by one of the worst outbreaks of these swarms of gnats, and with the warmer weather is hoping that this year will not turn out to be the same, according to Arkansas official experts.

Watch this video to see what you can do to avoid these pests from ruining your outdoor plans