Scientist Attributes Rise in Biting Flies to "Tastiness" of Modern Americans

New Jersey beachgoers have noticed a sharp rise in the number of biting flies at the shore. Unlike years ago when insects at the beach were an occasional nuisance, biting flies have become a persistent pestilence. Some beaches are plagued by creepy "greenheads" with their painful bites that can make it almost impossible to stay outdoors. In Ocean county, it is usually black flies that scrape a person's skin and then drink the blood like a mini vampire. 

As local resident Dawn MacMantis put it, "These flies really suck! All these sand flies, and sand fleas on our sandwiches! You swat at them and they just bite you more. And repellents barely work. You can almost hear the bugs laughing at you when you're putting it on."

The question that arises is, what is causing this sudden spike in vicious bugs? A researcher at the Eastern Entomology Knowledge Base University Group Science (EEKBUGS) thinks she knows the answer. "Modern Americans are just too tasty," said Dr. Mariposa Papillon. "Years ago, Americans did not consume as much sugar, salt and fat as they do now. To insects, people with this kind of diet are just too delicious to pass up. So, let's say you stop at a fast food place on your way to the beach and you eat a huge burger. salty fries, and a shake. Once all that is in your system, the insects can detect it. You're practically inviting the bugs to bite you."

EEKBUGS has been studying the populations of biting insects at the Jersey Shore for 25 years and has seen a steady growth in their populations. This growth directly correlates to the decline in the American diet. "It's fascinating to look at graphs of the data," said Dr. Papillon. "If you overlay the increase in sugar that Americans eat with the increase in biting bugs, you see that the rise in each is almost identical!"

Dr. Papillon said there is another unusual development that EEKBUGS has discovered. "We are finding that insects that heretofore had been harmless, are evolving into blood-suckers. We have numerous reports of ladybugs biting people on the beach," said Dr. Papillon. "We are actively trying to verify these reports, but if true, it shows that the ready source of nutrients found in sunbathers is changing the diet of insects. It's truly remarkable!"

Unfortunately, EEKBUGS does not have a solution to the problem for beachgoers. "Strong bug repellent creams can help and we advise everyone to use them," she said. "People with healthy diets also should use repellents. After all, even bugs will have a salad once in a while. For everyone else, I suggest you try and alter your diet for at least a day before you hit the beach. Avoid greasy, salty foods and definitely don't eat too much sugar." Dr. Papillon believes that anything a person can do to make themselves less yummy will reduce their chances of being bitten. "It may be disappointing that you can't have an ice cream cone on your beach day, but if you have to indulge, at least try to wait until you're heading home. Otherwise, prepare to be bitten!"