Fish Flies Swarm Dubuque

By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter

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By Katie Wiedemann

Story Created: Jul 2, 2009 at 5:11 PM CST

Story Updated: Jul 2, 2009 at 5:19 PM CST

Dubuque - People in Dubuque spent the morning sweeping up dead May Flies after a huge swarm along the Mississippi River.
Conservationists say May Flies, or as locals call them, Fish Flies are a few weeks early this year.

They tell us that's because of last week's warm temperatures.
Now many people wonder if the bugs will ruin their Independence Day celebrations.

This was Ann Maragaret Haller's first time visiting Dubuque, fish flies were her welcoming committee.

Haller said, "I just freaked out."
That’s a common reaction from people who have never seen them before.

Wedding Photographer, Joy Grutz fought the flying bugs Thursday morning while taking a couple's engagement photos along the river.

Grutz said, "It's going to cause a lot more work later in the photo shop. I'm going to have to remove all of them so they don't look gross in their photos."

Grutz could face another challenge with the bugs during a wedding this weekend.

Dubuque County Conservationists say it’s likely the flies will be back for the next few nights. Including, during the 3rd of July fireworks.
The good news is they don't stick around very long. Fish flies hatch in the river in the evening. They live for less than 24 hours.

"Many people think the fish flies are dead by the next morning. But if you shake things up, turns out they are still here."

Haller said, "My dad actually got bugs all the back side of him."

This was Ann Margaret's first fish fly sighting, and she hopes it will be her last.

Although Fish Flies can be annoying, conservationists say they are a sign of a clean and healthy river.

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