Biting black flies

coley · 07-22-2011, 04:44 PM

Experiencing biting black flies up here for the first time-anyone know the best defense or best to keep them from pestering?

upthesaukee · 07-22-2011, 09:14 PM

is a good defense....get them before they get you.

Seriously, we were out on the boat yesterday, and as I was trying to zip the bimini top cover, one of those little #%#@%$%$ took a chunk of flesh out of the calf on one leg. Hadn't been bit like that since I was last at the beach and had a green fly (flies) decide I would be a great dinner. Just like green flies, I have no idea how to prevent them from biting.

If nothing else, I feel your pain...literally.

trfour · 07-22-2011, 11:20 PM

You probably already have soft skin, however, pick up some Skin-So-Soft by Avon. Keeps them critters off and away, Big Time...

Greene's Basin Girl · 07-23-2011, 01:11 AM

Were they black flies or did they look like a smaller version of a deer fly? These flies have been driving crazy when I am floating in the hot sun.

upthesaukee · 07-23-2011, 04:50 AM

It looked like a regular black fly with huge teeth. Ok, I didn't see the teeth, but it was smaller than a deer fly.

coley · 07-23-2011, 05:44 AM

I don't knowwhat a deer fly looks like but whatever they were they were annoying all day-hoping the cooler weather will have something to do with them disappearing. We were at jockey cove and when I was helpings friend on his dock in south wolfeboro they were hardly noticeable

TOAD · 07-23-2011, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coley

I don't knowwhat a deer fly looks like but whatever they were they were annoying all day-hoping the cooler weather will have something to do with them disappearing. We were at jockey cove and when I was helpings friend on his dock in south wolfeboro they were hardly noticeable

STABLE FLY (Stomoxys calcitrans)
The stable fly is a about ¼-inch long and gray with four dark stripes on its thorax (behind the head). This fly looks like a house fly, except for the pointed proboscis beneath its head through which it sucks blood. They are most abundant in late summer and fall, and will fly several miles to bite livestock (hence the name), pets and people. They typically bite in early morning or late afternoon and often attack the ankles, inflicting a sharp, stabbing pain.

ApS · 07-25-2011, 01:48 AM

Yup—Stable Fly. Stable flies and Horse flies, among other black flies, were "in the news" last season:
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ead.php?t=6690

But never wear the color blue in Deer Fly season. Before biting, a Deer Fly will buzz around you several times, then often will land on your head.

A professor found that "sticky paper" on his blue hat would capture dozens!
http://equineink.com/2010/07/12/a-fe...o-embarressed/

07-22-2011, 04:44 PM	#1
coley Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Danvers,MA and 1 wk/yr Wolfeboro Posts: 47 Thanks: 0 Thanked 21 Times in 7 Posts	Biting black flies Experiencing biting black flies up here for the first time-anyone know the best defense or best to keep them from pestering?

07-22-2011, 09:14 PM	#2
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,547 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,398 Thanked 1,918 Times in 1,061 Posts	A good offense is a good defense....get them before they get you. Seriously, we were out on the boat yesterday, and as I was trying to zip the bimini top cover, one of those little #%#@%$%$ took a chunk of flesh out of the calf on one leg. Hadn't been bit like that since I was last at the beach and had a green fly (flies) decide I would be a great dinner. Just like green flies, I have no idea how to prevent them from biting. If nothing else, I feel your pain...literally. __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

07-22-2011, 11:20 PM	#3
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	You probably already have soft skin, however, pick up some Skin-So-Soft by Avon. Keeps them critters off and away, Big Time... __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html

07-23-2011, 04:50 AM	#5
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,547 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,398 Thanked 1,918 Times in 1,061 Posts	smaller than a deer fly It looked like a regular black fly with huge teeth. Ok, I didn't see the teeth, but it was smaller than a deer fly. __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

07-25-2011, 01:48 AM	#8
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,788 Thanks: 2,085 Thanked 742 Times in 532 Posts	Shhhh...They're Out There—and They're Watching Us! Yup—Stable Fly. Stable flies and Horse flies, among other black flies, were "in the news" last season: http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ead.php?t=6690 But never wear the color blue in Deer Fly season. Before biting, a Deer Fly will buzz around you several times, then often will land on your head. A professor found that "sticky paper" on his blue hat would capture dozens! http://equineink.com/2010/07/12/a-fe...o-embarressed/

07-23-2011, 01:11 AM	#4
Greene's Basin Girl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 394 Thanked 527 Times in 269 Posts	Were they black flies or did they look like a smaller version of a deer fly? These flies have been driving crazy when I am floating in the hot sun.

07-23-2011, 05:44 AM	#6
coley Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Danvers,MA and 1 wk/yr Wolfeboro Posts: 47 Thanks: 0 Thanked 21 Times in 7 Posts	I don't knowwhat a deer fly looks like but whatever they were they were annoying all day-hoping the cooler weather will have something to do with them disappearing. We were at jockey cove and when I was helpings friend on his dock in south wolfeboro they were hardly noticeable

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to TOAD For This Useful Post:
ApS (08-02-2011), secondcurve (07-23-2011), VitaBene (07-24-2011)