Fly fallout, flood fix & Match measure

AN INSECT EXPLOSION

Last summer was one of the best summers at our cottage weather-wise in many, many years. We had very few blackflies, mosquitoes, deer flies, and horseflies, but an abundance of cluster flies. Any idea why?—PETER KUZIK, LACS-DES-SEIZE-ÎLES, QUE.

If you’re thinking that the explosion of cluster flies caused a decrease in biting bugs, that’s not likely, say our experts. More likely: two different events led to the population anomalies you noticed.

First, the low numbers of mosquitoes, blackflies, deer flies, and horseflies. This can happen if it’s a hot, dry summer. “And it was certainly hot and dry last summer in parts of the country,” says Pete Heule of the invertebrate zoology department at the Royal Alberta Museum. “In that situation, anybody who relies on wet, moist