Black Fly season

[Sal]

The season is here (traditionally, Mothers Day to Fathers Day).
Short of full body armor, what spritz-on, rub-on or wear-on products have you found to be effective in keeping these pests at bay, and especially in keeping them out of your eyes, nose and ears?

[WINDinmySOCKIES]

Anything with the at least 23% deet for adults only, (or this one anyway) spray it on your hands first b-4 you apply around the face as not to inhale:eek: For some reason, you seem to have to reapply a lot more often than with other bugs
Also, those head nets are great. I found a product last year specifically to spray on clothes , backpacks, etc...outergarments only.. that worked pretty good..found it in the sporting goods section...(Walmart?)somewhere???!! Not only can I not recall where I got it..but I don't know what it's called! it's up at the lake and I'm not...Sorry:(

[John A. Birdsall]

let see we go from dogs and doggy doo doo on boat ramps in alton, to a bear of a time in Laconica, and now its Black Fly season. Perhaps they should be shooting the black fly's, issue BB guns with rubber pellets:laugh:

[cjs]

Someone posted here at one time that tucking dryer sheets into the neckline of your shirt kept them from biting you, I cannot remember who and I tried to search for it on this forum but could not find, maybe they will see this and let out their secret again. I will try anything to keep the black flies from biting. Thanks.

[MJM]

We use the dryer-sheet method, and it definitely helps. Rub them over all your skin first, then tuck them in to collars, tops of socks, sleeves, etc. to have as much as possible sticking out.

We use whatever brand (or non-brand) we happen to have at the time, but I'll bet some work better than others.

[jellybean]

I've never had luck with White Mountain or Crocodile! (which is made in southern NH and works ok but not great). I used REPEL with Lemon Eucalyptus last year, which was tested by Consumer Reports and found to be better than low doses of DEET (hate the smell of DEET!). I use the OFF brand w/ lemon eucalyptus this year, which is easier to find, and it's been working great so far. This is from consumerreports.org, to which we subscribe:

August 2005
Update: Another good mosquito repellent

EFFECTIVE Repel spray, $6, protected better than other repellents we’ve tested. Mosquito repellent with oil of lemon eucalyptus, a plant-based ingredient, was recommended as effective by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after we had completed tests for our July 2005 repellent report. So we tested again, pitting the oil against a good performer from the earlier test. The results were impressive.

We compared Repel Lemon Eucalyptus spray, $6, the more-concentrated of the two leading eucalyptus-based repellents, against Cutter Unscented with 10 percent deet, $4.50. Deet has been safely used for years, though some people don’t like how it smells or feels.

Using caged mosquitoes, testers found that Repel prevented bites by an aggressive species for 4 to 7 hours, and more than 12 hours by a tamer type. That’s longer than with the deet repellent or a deet alternative we previously tested, Cutter Advanced with Picaridin, $5. Picaridin is also recommended by the CDC. We didn’t test Repel’s claimed efficacy against ticks. Nor did we test a similar repellent, OFF Botanicals, $6, but its lower concentration suggests briefer protection.

Our sensory panelists found Repel had a lemony odor and felt somewhat tacky on the skin. Like deet, Repel stained leather. But unlike deet, it didn’t damage plastics.

Consider Repel, especially if you don’t like deet. For less odor and skin sensation, try Cutter Advanced with Picaridin, but you may need to apply it more often. The Environmental Protection Agency says picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and deet are all safe when used as directed.

[Grant]

Try Jungle Juice or any of the DEET mixes. They work well. I'm dying to try the Bounce Sheet method, although we opened last week and the flies had barely begun to emerge.

[Argie's Wife]

This isn't a plug and isn't my company - I get nothing outta recommending this but...

there's a soap that has almost no scent but works - I use it a lot this time of year and even use it on my kids (ages 2 & 5). It's all-natural and really helps - HONEST!

www.catsinthecradlesoap.com

Look for BUG BAR - it works!

(You might find it at some of the health food stores, too - they are often at craft fairs and you can get it there...)