During the months of April or early May, you may witness a unique annual event at Devil’s Lake: the emergence of non-biting midges, also known as lake flies. While these insects do not bite, they may fly into your clothing, nose, mouth, and hair if you’re walking near the lake or driving with your windows down along the South Shore Rd. This life-cycle event lasts for about 3-4 weeks, coinciding with the onset of warm weather.
As the lake flies swarm, songbirds such as tree swallows, warblers, orioles, and thrushes take advantage of the abundance of insects, snatching them in flight. The hatch of the lake flies even times with warbler migration, adding to the excitement of this natural phenomenon. Despite their brief lifespan, the lake flies are an essential part of the lake’s ecosystem and provide food for many species of birds.
Did you know? If you look really closely, you can pick out the males from the females by their wide feathery antennae.