Black Fly

Observation: Swarms and swarms of these flies, they bite. Along the beach is a black line where they washed on shore.

Resource:

• InsectIdentification.org - Listing of insects and other bugs that can be found in the Insect Identification database for the state of Alaska.

LEO says: This looks like is could be a female March Fly, Bibio femoratus or some other member of Family Bibionidae. According to insects of South-central Alaska by Dominique M. Collet, "These are robust hairy black flies and the males fly in dense swarms that can resemble smoke from the distance. The eyes of the males and females differ greatly. Larvae live in decaying wood."