March Fly

5729  There are thousands of these “flys” around my outside light and on my outside door at nighttime. Can you tell me what they are?  Bill

This is a March fly (Diptera: Bibionidae). The adults are harmless nuisance pests, but the larvae of some species can damage plant roots – see http://tinyurl.com/zcq38lr for more detailed information. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.,