March Flies at Chapman Pool
Submitted: Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 13:38
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Member - IdahOz
Spent a lovely 2 days camping at
Chapman Pool in SW WA, Margaret river area, this weekend. Water was lovely and warm and the kids had a blast. The one downside was more March flies than we've ever seen before. Very persistent and when you killed one, 6 more came to the funeral and each one gave you a bite! Not sure if it is the area or if this is a particularly bad year for them. Still, had a very enjoyable weekend and highly recommend the
campsite.
Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 14:02
Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 14:02
They come with the Marri (Red Gum) blossom IdahOz, and plentiful red gum blossom is a good sign for winter rains - we hope!
They congregate in shady and moist spots - so stay out in the open and they won't be so bad.
Motherhen
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Follow Up By: get outmore - Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 15:11
Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 15:11
not just shady moist spots - surprisingly I was besieged by them at pt culver on the beach a couple of weeks ago
from memomry the SW forrests always have a few around this time of year
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Follow Up By: Member - Rod N (QLD) - Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 15:25
Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 15:25
Not just WA either. They are very friendly in Tassie at the moment.
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Reply By: racinrob - Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 17:37
Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 17:37
Although they are prevalent in March they are "Marsh Flies".
Yep.... they will draw blood.
rr
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Follow Up By: racinrob - Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 20:00
Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 20:00
OK, I stand corrected.
rr
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Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012 at 01:49
Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012 at 01:49
I am pretty sure you are right rr... everyone calls them March flies or Marchies but I think they are really Marsh flies. Not sure why they would be March flies when they usually appear around October to November and the worst is usually well and truely over by March the following year. This year they have been fairly plentiful here in SW WA but they are certainly thinning out here in the hills east of
Perth. They seem to be more numerous after a wet winter.And yeah when you kill one 10 of his mates
rock up to mourn his passing and hold a wake while they try to gorge themselves on any handy blood supply.
Cheers
Pop
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Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012 at 16:58
Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012 at 16:58
" No No No" .. they are march flies because when they bite you they make you look like your marching down the beach !!!!!
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Reply By: Member - evren1 (WA) - Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012 at 02:12
Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012 at 02:12
yep, spent last weekend in the garden, big green eye'd buggers kept hammering me! They seemed to be hanging around our bottle brush and accasias which are in bloom!
Chapman pool would have been nice and quiet now the kiddies have gone back to school, we went down for a barbie a couple of weeks ago and it was packed. much nicer now the boat ramp has been closed and there is no fuel build up on the bend !
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Reply By: TerraFirma - Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012 at 13:55
Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012 at 13:55
Was at Refuge Cove on Sunday and they were everywhere, biting on the legs until I got the Bushman's out and caked that on.
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