Bugs!

Ken_McCarty

Ken_McCarty

Joined
Aug 30, 2001
Messages
358
So I went out into the woods today for a hike, got all bug-sprayed up and was walking along. I wasn't 10 feet into the woods when I got swarmed by some type of fly that had obviously never read the repelent bottle. these were smallish flys with a tan/black striped body. they didn't bite or sting, they were just annoying, and thick enough I had to cover my face with a bandana to breathe. anyone else noticing increased bug activity this year?
 
I haven't noticed too much activity in northern NJ but it has been damp and it is hot now, so we may see worse. I have noticed gnats on the trails, I'm always taking off my hat to swat them away. But if it doesn't bite, I don't worry. :)
 
Ken_McCarty said:
So I went out into the woods today for a hike, got all bug-sprayed up and was walking along. I wasn't 10 feet into the woods when I got swarmed by some type of fly that had obviously never read the repelent bottle. these were smallish flys with a tan/black striped body. they didn't bite or sting, they were just annoying, and thick enough I had to cover my face with a bandana to breathe. anyone else noticing increased bug activity this year?
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jds1 said:
Deer flies?

Jeff
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If they didn't bite, they weren't deer flies! :D

Doc
 
I used two different kinds of bug spray, one had 40% deet and the other 29%, only worked for about 10 or 15 minutes after that the deer fies were biting the back of my neck and we'll not talk about the nats.....
 
In the Maine northwoods, anything less than 100% DEET is just cologne...

...it might help you score a date with one of the locals, but the bugs won't be bothered by it any!

Besides, if the lil' buggers weren't biting, count your blessings!
 
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I've used buzz-off clothing for about 10 years now.

I just returned from a week hiking in the deep woods of Kentucky.

No more ticks or chiggers and the flying insects dont bother me at all.

http://www.exofficio.com/
 
For what it's worth, try to get as close to 70% DEET for maximal effectiveness. Anything more balls up and leaves bare patches on your skin, less (within reason) is actually better as it covers your skin more completely, you just have to apply it more frequently. This is one case where stronger is not necessarily better. Of course if you are spraying your clothes and they are cotton/hemp the DEET stays better at stronger concentrations, just not like that on skin.
 
I have some permethrin spray that I treat
my hiking clothes with. (rei has it,lotta places do)
Seems to work really well at keeping the bugs away.
I started treating my socks last year and that really helped
with the crawlies. No ants etc on my legs.
My treated bandanna gets hung at the door to the tent at night,
keeps the skeeters away while going in and out.

 
kgd said:
Sounds like a good protein source to me!
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didn't know my lungs could process protein;)

I tried again today with 100% DEET.. still no dice, seemed like more of them were trying to nest in my airway and they seemed to really like the back of my head for some reason or another(not the crown.. more like by the brainstem area.)
 
Oh yeah. I've never seen bugs like I've been getting into the last few weeks. No mosquitoes, but lots of gnats, flies, and ticks that seem impervious to 95% DEET, though it may be getting washed or sweated off.
Just dug a couple of ticks out of my hip and another from my knee that were so tiny I could barely even tell what they were with a magnifying glass.

Kismet said:
n fact, Deer flies carry their own cutlery set
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Instead of swatting at them when they land, I've started letting them dig in, and then thumping them to death.
 
We had a dry warm spring, and up to this point it was easy going bug wise. Now the cool damp conditions have returned and the tiny noseeums (however it's spelled) have become really nasty.

They fly right through the screens, I have to spray the screens down with deet to keep them out. They are unbearable outside in the evenings, hard to see and itch like hell.
 
I learned as a kid to wear a bug head net. If it does not bit, or get into my ears, I let them live. :p
 
This thread is yet another illustration for why i do not go backpacking in the summer months unless high up in the mountains.

When on active duty, the flying little $&%#%'s would stick to my camo and then wriggle about trying to free themselves. All the while, i was unable to be swatting about trying to kill them. Well i suppose i could have, but then would likely have received a "no go" and be removed from whatever fun exercise/training i was doing.
 
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