Bean Life Science Museum Announces Black Fly Lecture

The lecture is titled “Blood Bath: Interactions of Black Flies and Wildlife”

Black flies feed on birds and other wildlife.

Dr. Peter Adler, Professor, Clemson University

Dr. Peter Adler, Professor of Entomology at Clemson University will present a lecture on March 7th at the Bean Life Science Museum. The lecture, titled “Blood Bath: Interactions of Black Flies and Wildlife”, will be held in the auditorium. There will be a public reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by the lecture at 7:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Black flies feed on the blood of humans, cattle, horses, other livestock, and wild mammals and birds. Some can fly 7 to 10 miles from breeding sites looking for warm blooded prey. Livestock and poultry, as well as some wildlife, are sometimes killed by large numbers of blackflies.

Dr. Adler has taught at Clemson University since 1984. His research is focused on the behavior, ecology, cytogenetics, and systematics of agriculturally and medically important arthropods. He is the author of the award-winning book, The Black Flies (Simuliidae) of North America, as well as more than 230 articles and other books.