What are these horrible flies all of a sudden?

[MoggasDog]

We live in the midlands. Today, there are 1000s of black flies. They are only little with a long body and a black spot on each wing.
I took the the dogs out near the river and ended up spitting a few out

Any ideas what these annoying effing things are, so that I can namedrop them with the neighbours and look very learned and worldly-wisey?

 

[Littlefella68]

Could they be flying ants

 

[MoggasDog]

Could they be flying ants

nah - definitely flies

 

[Comforts_comforter]

May flies?

 

[Lemmy_kilmister]

They'll be those Deadly Black Country YamYam Flies.

 

[afcb_acklam]

may flies! amazing things. live for 48 hours, shag all the time, then die. wot a life.

 

[HundredRoom]

Next time collect them up - very nice on toast with a chilled white wine.
Its all protein at the end of the day

 

[MoggasDog]

not mayflies - these are grotty, annoying, black flies. they are long bodied like mayflies/dragon flies etc but are black with short wings - each wing has one black spot

 

[Way_Out_West]

not mayflies - these are grotty, annoying, black flies. they are long bodied like mayflies/dragon flies etc but are black with short wings - each wing has one black spot

I think they're Thyme Flies. They tend to come out when you're having fun.

 

[Red_is_best]

This maybe?

 

[MoggasDog]

I think they're Thyme Flies. They tend to come out when you're having fun.

I actually googled this to check. jesus.

 

[MoggasDog]

This maybe?

View attachment 38183

nah, thats a flying ant, I think.
These things were defo flies

 

[Red_is_best]

nah, thats a flying ant, I think.
These things were defo flies

It’s a Lesser Dung Fly

 

[MoggasDog]

It’s a Lesser Dung Fly

ok. sorry but it wasnt one of those.

these little bastods have the long body of a mayfly or dragonfly. and they did that thing that mayflies/d-flies do where they can just hang in the air without moving

 

[Red_is_best]

This is bugging me now clearly got too much “thyme” on my hands. Wonder if they are the so called St Marks fly. They are shiny and black, hover and swarm, but don’t have spot on wings

 

[Red_is_best]

St Marks fly in flight. I’ve come across these and they are ugly, annoying little buggers

 

[MoggasDog]

thats more like it - but they definatley had the spots on the wings - but youve got the bodyshape.
When I take the dogs out today I will muller one and take a photo

 

[MoggasDog]

ok. so they were at it again today.
These things fly with their abdomen curled upwards - like black flying seahorses (!) , was the analogy that immediately sprung to mind. or maybe an airport departure symbol - their tail turned up.
but they are doing my head in.
next to the river is a flood meadow that is only now drying out - so whether these are mosquito types that lay their eggs in stagnant water etc. whatever they are - its the flood meadow where they are swarming. The field next to it was almost free of these tw.ats