Annual Lake Fly Hatch in Full Swing!

Attention park visitors! The annual lake fly hatch is currently in full effect around Devil’s Lake. These tiny insects started to appear over the last few days and have now reached an impressive “cloud” stage. If you’re planning to visit the park in the next couple of weeks, you might want to avoid hiking on the Tumbled Rocks trail or anywhere along the lakeshore until the flies complete their full life cycle.

Here are some interesting facts about lake flies:

  1. Although the flies can be irritating, they do not bite!
  2. Lake flies do not have mouths and only live for 7 to 21 days.
  3. Bug spray is ineffective against lake flies, so save your repellent for other insects.
  4. Windy conditions will keep the lake flies down near the ground. Numbers are highest on sunny days.
  5. Lake flies also hatch in Lake Winnebago and can be found in High Cliff State Park.
  6. These flies are a crucial food source for fish, birds, bats, and other animals. Approximately 95% of the lake flies will be eaten before they die off.
  7. Lake flies are often mistaken for mayflies, but they are actually two different creatures. Mayflies are much larger in size.
  8. If you get close enough, you can tell the difference between male and female lake flies. Males have large, fuzzy antennae, while females do not.

While the lake fly hatch may be a temporary inconvenience for park visitors, it is an essential part of the ecosystem. We encourage you to explore other areas of the park during this time and appreciate the unique natural phenomena that Devil’s Lake State Park has to offer.

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