San Gabriel Valley sees early surge of tiny black flies that bite human eyes.
SAN GABRIEL, Calif. (KABC) -- Small black flies with a wicked bite are swarming parts of the San Gabriel Valley, and experts say their unusual early arrival is overwhelming residents from Azusa to Altadena.
"They're biting black flies, and so these are different than your regular housefly," said Anais Diaz with the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.
Unlike common houseflies, black flies are drawn to human breath and the salty moisture around the eyes.
Diaz noted that while black flies can transmit river blindness, that risk does not apply locally.
Typically, black flies appear in May, with another surge in August, but their presence in late March is raising concerns.
Black flies can travel up to five miles and live for as long as two months. »