Blackflies

  UGA: home of the Dawgs, the Arch... and the world’s one and only captive blackfly colony. These biting insects are an international pest, responsible for spreading debilitating parasites across West Africa and rivalling even mosquitoes for most widespread and irritating insect. Here at UGA, over 2 million of them are painstakingly maintained at all stages of their life cycle as a vital resource for researchers worldwide. In this segment, Elmer Gray shares how our little-known claim to fame is making blackfly research possible on a global scale, and giving hope to the communities they impact.