Black Flies

[4 for Boating]

Heading up this weekend.
Any latest data on the bug situation?

Thanks!

[VitaBene]

The black flies are healthy and the mosquitos are as well!! The rain really has not helped the situation.

[Merrymeeting]

The black flies have been fierce. But as the previous poster noted, the mosquitoes are now out. I've found over the years that once we start seeing the mosquitoes, the black flies are almost done.

Pick your poison :rolleye1:

[chipj29]

The black flies will be mostly gone in the next week or so. The warm temps usually kills them off.
However.........
The mosquitos are completely out of control right now. All the rain has made the population explode. Plan on bringing extra cans of bug spray!

[Blue Pig]

It might just be an old wives tale but it seems to work for me ... thought I could share and maybe some of you might find it useful.

We've been doing this for years at my parents Cape House (where the Horse Flies are brutal!) After you brew some coffee, save all of the coffee grounds. Rub them onto whatever areas of skin are exposed for the day and let it sit for about 20 minutes. After that you can either wash the grounds off or just go about your normal day. There's something about the smell that keeps the flies away. FOr those of you who don't brew coffee, I've heard the same works with mustard. Just rub it into your skin like you would sunscreen & let it sit for 20 minutes.

Good luck!

[tummyman]

It might work but up here, you may be suspected of being a large coffee and hot dog to go ! Just kidding...... but id does sound like a horrible mix.

[Lakesrider]

I can attest the mosquitoes. They were all over me last night. Very humid weather seems to get them going, more so than a dry day. Not fun when you are mowing the lawn and you get one in your eye and swat at it and hit yourself in the face....or breathe them up your nose and stand in your front lawn blowing your nose out with people looking at you like your an idiot....:look::laugh::D

[NHBUOY]

...I can attest, they were quite plentiful on Meredith neck today...I have found that Avon Skin-So-Soft works GREAT for keeping them away tho...I dont't know why, I am not a scientist...:laugh:...

[tis]

I think the skin so soft works well too. That is what I use. I have used it for years and years.

[LakesRegionSpirit]

..at our place in Gilford. I've just been driven inside after attempting to do some house staining.

[Blue Pig]

Has anyone tried the two remedies (coffee/mustard)? Today hasnt been so bad for the flies but last night was pretty brutal. If you don't have any mustard diatomaceous earth will work as well. It super effective for flies & ticks.

[frano]

I am trying to find out if it is just me or are others finding the mosquito situation is worse than it has been in the past few years?

[AC2717]

two weekends ago black flies were in the millions seems like with no skeeto's.
THis past weekend Skeeto's galore with no black flies on the radar

Go figure

Only at dusk though on the skeeto's

[GTO]

I am trying to find out if it is just me or are others finding the mosquito situation is worse than it has been in the past few years?

They were vicious on Friday and Saturday. They didn't even wait for dusk. Standing out in the hot sun on Friday talking with a neighbor and they were attacking in swarms. Worse than black flies this year. Seemed to calm down yesterday...

[hilltopper]

I am trying to find out if it is just me or are others finding the mosquito situation is worse than it has been in the past few years?

Yes, it is definitely a bad year for bugs. You had to know it was going to be with all the rain we received in April and May. I had to resort to a long sleeve shirt, gloves, long pants, and a head net to get my veggie garden in this weekend.

[ishoot308]

It was the "noseeums" near and on the water that got to me this weekend! They were out in force!!

Dan

[angela4design]

Meredith market (Hannaford and Rite Aid, Aubuchon was closed each time I tried) were SOLD OUT of 'bug dope' all weekend long, empty shelves!! :eek: So, if that doesn't answer the question, I don't know what does!

[John A. Birdsall]

is that decaff coffee you rub on your skin? is it still warm? will instant work?

[Knockers]

'didn't know I could fly!!!! I stepped out side ,stuck my arms out---poof---next thing I was standing in the driveway beside my truck!!!

[Rattlesnake Guy]

Sketers need standing water. Don't be mad, but we don't have any on this part of the island. Never do. Plenty of spiders but very rare to see a flying insect. When we bought the camp, they did not even have screens on the windows. We have put them in just cause the few miscellaneous things that do come in are unwelcome. The bats seem to be able to keep up with whatever tries to live here.

It is damp enough here for ferns and moss to thrive but not for mosquitoes and black flies to breed.

[phoenix]

mosquitos are the worst ever . Hope they die out soon

[lakeboss]

Blue Pig,
You mentioned that Coffee beans and or Mustard may help keep the black flies away. I have tried the coffee beans several times.The coffee beans from Folgers coffee beans work the best. I have found that they keep the flies away from you the best. Although the only problem is that if you like to swim, like I do, its tough to continue putting the beans on. So then I tried the mustard. I must say, it works better. What i did was i watered it down a bit so i could put it in a spray bottle. it was a bit too thick to spray. that way it goes on quickly and much easier to apply.

thanks for the great idea's, my kids never complain about the flies anymore!

- David. :)

[rander7823]

It will attract regular flies

[SIKSUKR]

I use mustard gas and find it kills everything around me.The only drawback is having to wear that mask.:laugh:

[ApS]

I am trying to find out if it is just me or are others finding the mosquito situation is worse than it has been in the past few years?
It may depend on where you live. My area has scant mosquitoes to speak of, and is experiencing a "bloom" of dragonfly nymphs.

Dragonflies, depending on the species that is hatching, will reduce your airborne mosquito situation and live for several weeks.

This photo was taken at my dock today. The nymph has crawled from the Lake where the majority of its life has been spent, where it eats mosquito larvae.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miFN2o3woSw

What remains behind after crawling out of the lake—and hatching—is the empty, cast-off, exoskeleton of a Dragonfly "nymph":