Economic impact of black flies (Diptera:Simuliidae) in South Carolina and development of a localized suppression program.

The membership of a private golf club in South Carolina's Piedmont Physiographic Region was surveyed to determine perceptions regarding local black fly populations and the effects of these populations on golfing habits. The economic impact of black fly annoyance at this club was estimated to be $27,202. Adult monitoring indicated that the pest species were members of the Simulium jenningsi group; larval monitoring identified the Enoree River, Laurens County, as the primary source of the pest species. A localized suppression program was initiated during the late summer of 1994 and continued through the fall of 1995. Four larvicide applications were conducted in 1994 and 11 in 1995, using the biological insecticide Vectobac. Larval mortalities of 94.5 and 97% were produced during 1994 and 1995, respectively. Adult black fly populations were reduced 92 and 88% during 1994 and 1995, respectively, from pre-program populations. Improvements for future suppression programs are proposed.