Notorious Pests of Ipswich and Newbury Beaches, Greenheads Subside This Year

Every July, the abhorred greenhead flies descend upon the beaches of the North Shore, particularly Crane Beach and Newbury Beach. Located closest to salt marches, these beaches bear the brunt of these pests’ activity, as the flies emerge hungry from laying their eggs in the marshes. Greenhead flies, commonly known around here as greenheads, are a type of large horsefly, about half an inch in length, and befitted with nasty scissor-like mandibles allowing them easy access to human (and other mammal) blood. The flies start developing after the high tide of June, says Plum Island resident Bob Connors. They take about a week to matu

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The Magazine

Notorious Pests of Ipswich and Newbury Beaches, Greenheads Subside This Year

The horseflies that swarm North Shore beaches each July seem to be having a lighter season this year—and will likely be gone in early August.

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