Biting flies are out in the Myrtle Beach area. Why now & how to avoid bites on your SC beach day

Maria Elena Scott
·2 min read

If you’ve been trying to enjoy Grand Strand beaches now that temperatures have finally dropped, you may have noticed some unwanted pests. Common species of biting flies in South Carolina are abundant in the fall and can put a damper on your beach day.

What’s biting you?

Stable flies are the most likely source for a beach bite, according to Clemson University extension entomologist and beekeeper Ben Powell. Small and dark, stable flies look much the same as common houseflies, but have one major difference: a painful bite.

Lying out in the sand in the Myrtle Beach area, you might also get bites from no-see-ums, also called biting midges and sand fleas, and horse flies. Like humans, these pests are likely enjoying the fall weather.

“They’re common, they’re found in most wetlands and they’re definitely common in salt marshes in the coastal habitats,” Powell said. “But they tend to be more active when you have moderate temperatures.”

Stable flies have been biting people on Myrtle Beach sands this fall. Photo from the University of Florida.
Stable flies have been biting people on Myrtle Beach sands this fall. Photo from the University of Florida.

Can you prevent bites?

These bites can be uncomfortable or downright painful, so you may want to take steps to avoid them. If you’re trying to steer clear of biting flies on your beach day, consider setting up away from estuaries and marshy habitats.

“Almost all of these biting flies reproduce in aquatic habitats or wetland habitats,” Powell said. “Like all of the horse flies, they reproduce in and around aquatic vegetation. The stable flies tend to reproduce in moist soil and moist mud. Kind of the same situation with the no-see-ums, they reproduce in just about any kind of shallow standing water.”

Timing when you plan to visit the beach is another way to avoid irritating bites. According to Powell, you’re most likely to encounter biting flies around dawn and dusk. The pests also prefer calmer weather, so they’re less likely to be out when it’s windy.

You can also take steps to deter or repel bugs while you’re out. Bug sprays containing DEET, picaridin and essential oils and using fans can create an air current can help keep pests away. Another option is simply covering your skin to reduce the area open for bites.

“If you’re going to be on the beach, obviously you’re probably not wanting to wear a lot of clothes, but protecting yourself with long clothing is helpful as well,” Powell said.

Pictured is a biting midge, what is known as a no-see-um, sand flea, sand gnat or sand fly.
Pictured is a biting midge, what is known as a no-see-um, sand flea, sand gnat or sand fly.

If you get bitten

The good news is, unless you have an allergy, biting flies don’t pose much of a health risk.

“A lot of these other flies, other than mosquitoes, don’t carry a whole lot of diseases,” Powell said. “But everybody reacts to them differently. What we’re most concerned about is if you develop what looks kind of like an infection.”

If a bite gets red, swollen or hot it could mean you got a disease vector and should get the bite checked by a doctor.