Watch out for biting flies at the beach. Here’s how to avoid them in Myrtle Beach

If you’ve tried to relax on the sands of Myrtle Beach recently, you might have been interrupted by biting flies.

This September, beachgoers have reported swatting away flies who leave bites that feel like needle pricks. Eric Benson, Clemson professor and entomologist, explained what these beach-dwelling pests are, and how to avoid their bites.

What is biting me?

Benson said it could be one of the hundreds of fly species in South Carolina. Stable flies are the most common biting fly in the state, but deer and horse flies could also be the culprit, Benson said.

Stable flies are black and about the size of a house fly. They like the beach because they breed in decaying plants, including seaweed on the beach and grasses in the dunes.

Biting flies usually make a quick cut on your body and leave, unlike mosquitoes that tend to linger, “penetrating into your skin like a needle,” Benson said.

Can I get a disease from these flies?

While mosquitoes can carry diseases like malaria and West Nile virus, biting flies are only a nuisance on South Carolina beaches. People usually don’t get allergic reactions or irritation from fly bites.

“They just hurt like the dickens,” Benson said.

How can I prevent bites?

Since stable flies like to bite people’s legs and arms, Benson recommended covering your body with long sleeves and pants. You can also wear insect repellent with ingredients like DEET or picaridin.

Why are there so many bugs right now?

Early fall and late summer are the peak of the insect population in South Carolina, because bugs have had all spring and summer to grow and reproduce.

Benson said insect numbers decrease when the nighttime temperature drops below 55 degrees, usually in October for Myrtle Beach.