Welcome to Kingsville’s Most Exclusive Invasion: The Fish Fly Takeover

Lake Erie, sunshine, wine… and millions of winged visitors that nobody actually invited but show up anyway.

Let’s get this out of the way early: Yes, they’re coming. We don’t know exactly when. We don’t know exactly how many. Some nights? Total swarm. Other nights? Not a single one. But when they do arrive, they arrive with… enthusiasm.

The good news:

• They don’t bite (really, they don't have a mouth).

• They don’t sting.

• They don’t carry diseases.

• They’re not after your wine (thankfully).

• They are, however, fully committed to making your walk to the car a little crunchy.

Room for one more? The official Fish Fly welcome committee — always clinging to their posts.

What the heck are Fish Flies?

Technically, they’re Ephemeroptera — but around here we just call them Fish Flies. Some folks say Mayflies. Or Shadflies. Or Sandflies. Or Dayflies. Locals? We just say: "Ugh! Here we go again."

These little guys live most of their lives underwater, hanging out like teenagers in their parents' basement for 1-2 YEARS. Then, they emerge for their brief adult debut: they fly, mate, lay eggs, and then… well… nature takes its course. They quite literally live fast, love hard, and die everywhere.

When do they show up?

Honestly? We don’t know. We’ve seen them start as early as June (hence the nickname “June Bugs” around here), and some years, they can pop in and out through September. It depends on water temperature, winds, and some secret little bug science that we have no control over.

This year? Our friends across the lake in Ohio have spotted the first waves — which usually means we’re next. Maybe tonight. Maybe next week. Maybe not at all for a few days. Welcome to the unpredictable world of Fish Fly Season.

Why do they exist (and why here)?

Believe it or not — their arrival is actually a good thing. Fish Flies only thrive in clean, healthy water, so Lake Erie showing off with a full-on swarm is nature’s way of saying:

"Hey Kingsville — your lake’s doing great!"

Fish, birds, and all kinds of wildlife love them. Humans? Well… we're working through our complicated feelings.

What are we doing about it?

Because we love you, dear guests — we’re doing everything humanly (and somewhat comically) possible:

🔴 RED LIGHT DISTRICT ACTIVATED

Yep. You read that right. This summer, The Grove is officially running its very own Red Light District (don’t get any funny ideas). We’ve invested in retrofitting many of our outdoor lights to red bulbs because science says:

Humans can still see with red light and Fish Flies don’t like red light as much. (And honestly? We’ll try anything to keep them from thinking The Grove is an all-night rave.)

Was it cheap? No.

Are we crossing our fingers? Absolutely.

🍃 THE CLEAN-UP CREW IS ON IT

This is what the Cool Kids call, "making the best of the situation".

Our crew works hard throughout the mornings to clear as many bodies as we can — walkways, balconies, patios, entrances — all get some TLC to keep things guest-friendly.

Is it glamorous work? What do you think?

Are we breaking a sweat? For sure.

Risking our lives? Not even close. (But our clean crew for the day does deserve an extra coffee or two.)

❌ What NOT to bring:

• Bug spray? Useless.

• Wipes? Won’t help.

• Flashlights? Basically a neon "Welcome" sign for them.

How long does it last?

Typically, each hatch will hang around for a few days, but multiple hatches can happen throughout the summer. So don’t be surprised if you hear us say:

"Oh, it’s Fish Fly Season… AGAIN!"

The Bottom Line:

If you happen to visit during Fish Fly Season and you've weathered the swarm — congratulations! You’ve officially earned Lake Erie Street Cred.

Bring your sense of humor, your camera (because it makes for great vacation stories), and know that you're visiting somewhere so clean even nature can’t resist.

And remember: The Grove’s got your back (with our blowers).

PS: Want to impress your friends back home? Tell them you vacationed in Kingsville’s Red Light District — and lived to tell the tale.

Stay weird. Stay cool. Stay with us.

xox - The Cool Kids at The Grove

Original BLOG by Jennifer Flynn, Chief Fun Maker at The Grove Hospitality Group (June 9, 2025)