Free Yellow Fly Kits Offered as Painful Bite Season Begins Staff Reports March 11, 2026 9:02 am 30a, Destin, Emerald Coast, South Walton, Walton County In Brief: Who: South Walton Mosquito District and South Walton residents What: Free Yellow Fly Kits to help reduce nuisance yellow fly activity around homes When: April 1 – June 30, Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: South Walton County, Florida Why: Yellow flies are painful daytime biters and difficult to control, so the traps help reduce their presence near homes. As spring arrives along the Emerald Coast, residents in South Walton can expect sunshine, blooming flowers, and the return of yellow flies. To help residents manage the annual nuisance, the South Walton Mosquito District will begin distributing free Yellow Fly Kits on April 1 to qualifying residents. Officials say the kits are designed to help reduce yellow fly activity near homes during the insects’ peak season, which typically runs from early spring through early summer. Yellow flies, scientifically known as Diachlorus ferrugatus, are common across the Florida Panhandle. The insects are known for their painful daytime bites and are typically found near shaded tree lines, wooded areas, and wetlands. Unlike mosquitoes, female yellow flies cut the skin using specialized mouthparts to obtain blood needed for egg production. The bite often leaves a painful welt and, in some cases, may cause allergic reactions. Male yellow flies, however, do not bite. Instead, they feed on nectar and pollen and can contribute to pollination....
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