Deer keds surge in forests from August through October

From mid-August through October, coniferous forests and pine plantations see a surge in deer keds—dipteran insects often mistaken for ticks. These pests target warm-blooded animals, including humans, turning forest visits into a struggle against persistent blood-feeders. Biological Characteristics of the Deer Ked Despite their common nickname as "flying ticks," deer keds are not arachnids but flies. Their primary similarity to ticks is the requirement for blood meals. Upon locating a host—such as a moose, deer, or human—the fly sheds its wings and attaches firmly to the body. Maksim Orlov, biologist-ecologist: "It is important to understand that the deer ked is a highly specialized insect. Unlike many other garden or forest pests, the fly literally becomes wingless after landing on a victim, making it harder to brush off. It is evolutionarily designed for the thick hair cover of ungulates."