Greenheads arrive at refuge, right on time

By Melanie Graham
Staff writer

July 03, 2008 08:08 pm

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PLUM ISLAND — It's a humid, summer day in July on Plum Island. A cool breeze cuts through the thick air, birds dive in and out of marshes, a family unloads a car of children for a day in the sun.

With shorts, T-shirts and sandals, you can tell right away that this group is new to the area.

Before they can enjoy their picnic lunch, dozens of large, green insects swoop in, using their razor-sharp teeth to bite into the flesh of the visiting family. After withstanding several attacks and sustaining large, red welts, the family heads into the car for shelter.

For unsuspecting tourists, they're ferocious creatures that create an annoyance large enough to ruin any beach outing.

For locals, they're just those $#%! greenheads.

"You can get carried off alive," joked David Larson, the educational coordinator for the Joppa Flats Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary. "Well, almost alive."

According to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, the greenheads have made their first appearance this season, as July marks the beginning of the worst month for encountering the nasty creatures.

Larson, who spends time birding in the refuge, said the peak greenhead populations are not until the middle of July, tapering off into the beginning of August.

Greenheads are insects that reside in the salt marshes on Plum Island, spending most of the year underground and only surfacing in the summer months to lay eggs, said Nancy Pau, a biologist at the Parker River refuge. The females, she said, are the ones that bite, as they need protein from blood in order to lay more eggs.

"They tend to hurt more than mosquitos because they are actually biting the flesh," Pau said.

Unlike mosquitoes, greenheads use razor-sharp teeth to take out pieces of flesh in order to get to the blood.

Pau assures visitors that the greenheads pose no threat other than that of a nuisance, explaining that she knows of no diseases carried by the insect that could be transferred to humans.

In fact, the greenheads serve a greater purpose to the ecosystem of Parker River refuge. Larson explained that the bugs are an important food source to the birds in the marshes.

"Greenheads are an indicator of a healthy salt-marsh ecosystem," Pau said.

Despite the greenheads' purpose in the marshes, several traps are set up on the property leading up to the refuge in order to contain some of the insects during peak population. The black traps absorb sunlight, creating a heat source, something that greenheads search for.

For those wishing to venture inside the refuge for the holiday weekend, there is hope. Pau explained that if a person keeps moving, or if there is a slight breeze, the attacks tend to diminish, whereas idly resting on the beach will bring an increased number of biting bugs, especially if the skin is wet.

Both Pau and Larson suggest covering up with light clothing, as insect repellent does not seem to deter the greenheads. Moreover, because the insects hit a peak during the middle of the day, it is suggested to attend greenhead-heavy areas during the early morning hours or later evening.

"There's not a whole lot you can do to protect yourself," Larson said. "It's the nature of the beast."

Larson added one other piece of advice to those wishing to avoid the greenheads this season.

"Go to the Berkshires," Larson said.

Tips to protect yourself from the greenheads this summer:

r Cover up with light clothing; insect repellent does not work against greenheads

r Visit areas with greenheads during the early morning hours or late at night

r Keep moving; go for a walk in the refuge rather than sitting on the beach

r Try to keep skin dry

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