‘It was insane’: Extraordinary scenes as flies bombard WA’s Coral Bay

A couple travelling around Australia have gone viral after sharing disturbing footage at a picturesque beach.

Any sandgroper will tell you flies come with the territory in Western Australia, but travellers, even some locals, have been left stunned by a recent population boom.

Travel bloggers Chloe Peters and Harrison Davis went viral over the weekend with disturbing footage of a massive fly swarm giving them grief at a picturesque WA beach.

The footage, viewed over two million times, shows Mr Davis furiously swiping flies away from his face while Ms Peters’ legs are completely covered.

The footage was shot at Coral Bay, a tourist hotspot 1,100km north of Perth on the Ningaloo Reef.

The Brisbane couple told news.com.au they were used to their fair share of flies in the Sunshine State, but what they have encountered in WA over the past few weeks had been “next level”.

Western Australia has just experienced a massive population boom of flies. Picture: TikTok/ Our_aussielap

A viral video by a Brisbane couple Chloe Peters and Harrison Davis showed an intense swarm of flies bothering them at Coral Bay, a tourist spot in Western Australia. Picture: Instagram/ Our_aussielap

“They were a little bit hectic at Exmouth (an hour and a half north), but manageable, but we went to Coral Bay for a day trip and it was just next level – it was insane the amount of flies,” Ms Peters said.

“People were telling us where ever you were for that two weeks was just mental.”

Mr Davis said the pair had crossed the Simpson Desert and the Northern Territory, but what they saw in WA’s north was a first.

He said they lasted just an hour on the beach before the flies drove them back into the shelter of their car.

“That’s the worst we’ve personally ever encountered – it was like someone flicked a switch, and they came out of the works,” he said.

“We hope they don’t get that bad again because it kind of drove us insane.”

Mr Davis said driving on the highway or “getting your head under the water” was the only way to escape the swarms.

The pair said it was like nothing they’d ever seen. Picture: Instagram/ Our_aussielap

According to the comment section, the plague extended across the state.

“It’s so bad in Perth,” one commented.

“There’s literally flies on the walls. like about 20,” added another Perthian.

WA locals, no strangers tot he flies, confirmed it feels like one for the record books.

“(I’ve) never seen this in 35 years here in WA,” one said.

This reporter can also confirm flies were almost unintentionally consumed during a brief trip home a little over a week ago.

Another family shared a video of a recent camping trip in the state’s north.

It showed the parents and children donning full-face fly shields as a cloud of flies persisted towards the eyes and mouth.

Earlier this month, Keith Bayless, an entomologist and research scientist at the Australian National Insect Collection at the CSIRO, explained why flies will likely be an issue nationwide this summer following a spate of complaints from around Sydney.

“We’re probably going to see more flies this year than in the past couple of years,” he told news.com.au.

Another family shared a video of the flies during a recent camping trip in north WA. Picture: TikTok/ bykids.store

The rise is attributed to El Nino and early temperature increase. Picture: TikTok/ bykids.store

Mr Bayless attributed the rise to El Nino and early temperature increase.

“Flies are cold-blooded insects. If it’s warmer out, they will develop more quickly … since it’s been a hot spring so far, the development of a lot of these insects went faster. So things that would emerge in early summer are instead out now in September and October.”

Although the number of flies may decrease in cold and rainy weather, Mr Bayless predicts we will continue to see more flies until autumn.

Aussies are also warned to expect more flies inside their homes as the heat continues.

“Some flies might have been able to find enough food sources in the bush, but if it’s quite dry and there’s not enough for them to eat, they might be more likely to come into people’s houses or gardens,” Mr Bayless said.

“And if it’s another summer with bushfires, then other insects escaping the fires might also be noticed by people in their houses.”

Australia is home to around 30,000 fly species.

According to Mr Bayless, it’s difficult to determine the exact type of flies causing trouble for people. However, he suggests that the larger march flies, which bite, or the bush flies, whose populations increase during summer, are likely to be the culprits.

Those living in residential areas close to bush or farmlands can also expect to see more flies as we head into warmer months.

“Often, the flies can reproduce with the livestock and then fly over into the residential areas,” he explained.

– With Brielle Burns

Originally published as ‘It was insane’: Extraordinary scenes as flies bombard WA’s Coral Bay