AboutEd Saugstad Expertise Will accept most questions in general entomology, including those related to medical entomology, taxonomy, ecology, arthropod surveillance, and pest management.
Experience 21 years in the U.S. Army as a medical entomologist; duties varied from surveillance of pest populations (including mosquitoes, cockroaches, ticks, and stored products pests) to conducting research on mosquito-virus ecological relationships and mosquito faunal studies. Ten years as a civilian analyst for the Department of Defense, primarily on distribution of vector-borne diseases worldwide. Limited experience on surveillance of agricultural insects in North Dakota and Indiana.
Organizations Entomological Society of America, Society for Vector Ecology, National Speleological Society.
Publications American Journal of Public Health, Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, Journal of Economic Entomology, Mosquito News, and Mosquito Systematics.
Education/Credentials B.S. in entomology from North Dakota State University in 1963, M.S. in entomology from Purdue University in 1967.
Expert: Ed Saugstad Date: 7/2/2008 Subject: deer flies
Question We live in north NJ and have an inground pool. For some reason this season tons of deer flies are attracted to our pool. Naturally they die, they float and the water surface appears slightly oily. We recently lowered the chlorine slightly. Are we now attracting them? Do they release an oily substance when they die?
Answer Dear Jen - Are you absolutely certain they are deer flies? If they were present in such abundance, you could scarcely stay outdoors very long without being assaulted by them. That aside, color and movement play a role in attracting deer flies; they seem to home in on dark, moving objects, and I have seen reports of them finding the color blue attractive. Also, bright colors, particularly some shades of yellow, appear highly attractive to many nuisance insects. As for the oil, all insects that I know of contain lipids (oil) as do we. However, if you have any mechanical devices in or around your pool, I would check for any oil leakage as well.
Finally, you might check with your county office of Rutgers University Cooperative Extension service (see http://njaes.rutgers.edu/county/ for contact information) to see if others in your area have reported a similar problem, and if so, ask what they recommend you do.
