The black fly ‘invades’ the Terres de l’Ebre: its bite produces burning and “can affect tourism”

The population of the Terres de l’Ebre territory, made up of the Baix Ebre, Montsiá, Terra Alta and Ribera de l’Ebre counties, is on ‘alert’ due to a black fly plague that is stalking the area . Not only are their bites very annoying, but also, from the Agrarian Association of Young Farmers (ASAJA) they indicate that, if not controlled, it could “affect the tourism sector.” For this reason, the Terres de l’Ebre Environmental Policy Consortium (COPATE), thanks to a government grant, has launched a plan to prevent and control this plague that “at the time it already caused a major socioeconomic problem “, as indicated by the entity. Bites: discomfort and burning These insects are native, small flies, measuring between 2 and 6 mm, dark in color, with a squat body, antennae and short legs and large wings.File image of a black flyEuropa PressThe most prone areas where these flying insects are found are the banks of rivers, where they reproduce. “They form in the algae of areas with flooded or stagnant water”, explains the president of ASAJA of Tarragona, Albert Castelló, who insists that although the impact on the fields is minimal, “working is very annoying”. An unbearable situation for the farmers and also for the population. Not only because of their presence, but also because of their bites. A bite that is characterized by a red central point and is inflamed and can also cause severe itching and edema in sensitive people. However, as indicated by the Public Health Agency of Catalonia, in the Community it does not act as a vector of any disease. More rains, more flies Although the black fly plague has been around since spring, as explained to NIUS Castelló, he points out that the The situation may worsen as a result of the drought in recent months. Autumn is coming and the rains are going to come, something that will cause the density of this species to increase. “The problem is that it can affect the population and, above all, urban areas,” laments this farmer from Tarragona, who has also explained to NIUS that his wife had to go to the emergency room twice due to a black fly bite. In fact, so far this year, 1,837 people have been treated for bites from this type of fly and other non-poisonous insects in the territory. “Most of them belong to black flies,” they point out from Salud. Castelló believes that the plague “will not be radicalized”, although he does appreciate the work of the Consortium of Environmental Policies of Terres de l’Ebre (COPATE), which has an Action Plan for the prevention and control of mosquito and black fly infestations. Subsidy from the GeneralitatSome treatments and actions that the Consortium will be able to continue carrying out thanks to the subsidy granted by the Government of the Generalitat for a period of four years and for an amount of 3,597,280 euros. Black fly treatment in the river EbroCOPATEDfrom COPATE they point out that, at the moment, this plague is “under control” after carrying out treatments in seven points of the river, between Ascó and Tortosa. Some actions that have consisted of the dumping of 2,100 liters of biological product from a helicopter and that will allow, as they point out, “to reduce the impact of the black fly on the socioeconomic activities of the area, especially tourism and agriculture.”