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Small Cabin Forum / Nature / Black Flies
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zorro
Member
# Posted: 18 May 2020 10:20
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Now that it is that time of year again where we get tortured in the Adirondacks region (and maybe elsewhere?)

I have tried every normal spray - no deet, 90% deet, eucalyptus, peppermint, etc

Anyone have any secret sprays, creams, recipes that helps at all?

Thanks

Houska
Member
# Posted: 18 May 2020 13:31 - Edited by: Houska
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In Eastern Ontario, I've found that for extended activity outdoors, a mesh bug hat that hangs over face, ears, neck; and, optionally, mesh bug jacket; are the only things that work well enough to not be driven mad.

For brief activity, or if you're moving quickly and staying away from wet areas, I've found 40% DEET or picardin/icardin sprays work well enough to make it manageable. But don't expect miracles.

For us at least, however, black fly season only lasts a few weeks. If you're lucky, you then have a couple of weeks with mosquitoes only until the deer flies start....

Good luck!

zorro
Member
# Posted: 18 May 2020 15:13
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Thanks very much for that

I have the mesh head net, long sleeve t-shirts, etc............i was hoping there was some spray that someone had found that I was not aware of

They are like torture when working outside!!

FishHog
Member
# Posted: 18 May 2020 18:01
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I agree with Houska but my eyes go crazy after too long of looking through a mesh covering. Permithyn sprayed on clothes and a hat also helps. But it’s hard to get in Canada

Still don’t expect miracles. They are horrible little things

Whiskey Jack
Member
# Posted: 18 May 2020 21:22
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We've been using Permethrin for years now. We have to buy it in the US. With a group of people it does a good job keeping bugs away with the added benefit that any that land on your clothes will die.
For spraying on tou body, try icaridin. You can get it at Canadian tire. Woods brand. You'll probably have to read the ingredients. Doesn't melt plastic like feet and isn't real greasy feeling.

old243
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2020 09:42
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hope for a spell of hot weather, it shortens , the fly season. An interesting thing, black flies are claustrafobic ( spelling) if they get inside , they will try to get back out, I think deer flies are as well. They hatch in clean running water. Mosquitoes on the other hand, will seek you out anywhere. They will hatch out of any stagnant water, eavetroughs, pails sitting around. They are very adaptable. old243

zorro
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2020 12:00
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Thanks guys

Going to try the Permethrin and see how it goes, as well as the usual deet, etc

Thanks

hueyjazz
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2020 12:14
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I don't know if they make this anymore but I use to spend a lot of time in the Adirondacks. The gold standard was then something call Olde Time Woodsman's Fly Dope. It smells pretty bad but always seemed to work and didn't sweat off too easy. It was a brown thicker liquid.

I think it was made in Maine. And oh, you haven't lived until you've been in Maine for black fly season.
Only thing I ever experience that came close in the boundary waters of upper Minnesota between Canada.

You can't repel insects. What you are doing is blocking their receptors. They are attracted by carbon dioxide and skin odors.

jsahara24
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2020 15:23
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Looks like some of the towns are trying to eradicate them!

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/adirondacks/2020/05/adirondack-black-fly-update-theyll -be-coming-out-hard-memorial-day-weekend.html?fbclid=IwAR1K0BWE51M7OhPOh7hmtvDX4jw-Ih U8bvdGmjLLi7WNuL_dmFUWcPtyCEI

skootamattaschmidty
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2020 17:59
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Like the others, unfortunately I have found the only thing that works during black fly season is bug suits. It's terrible when you are trying to work and you are sweating but I havent had any success with any kind of spray! They are relentless and I plan to go to my cabin the end of the month and I think they will be thick!!

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 20 May 2020 18:09
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I just got back from our property and I thought we where dealing with nats... they where actually black flys. We used no DEET and had one head net between two of us. I'm a bit lumped up but we did find something that works but it needs application frequently. We also have two shot hair dogs that this worked on too. Richard organics flea and tick spray. Yes it's for dogs but it works very well on people and even ticks.
Here's the link.
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/richards-organics-flea-and-tick-spra y

moneypitfeeder
Member
# Posted: 21 May 2020 19:57 - Edited by: moneypitfeeder
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Wish I knew about the old time earlier, not enough time to get it B4 we go up to camp but might consider for next year: oletimewoodsman.com

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 22 May 2020 10:28
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Any idea what's in that old time woodsman stuff?

Thermacell things do work also. They where the only thing that worked for both the mosquitos and deer flys in the late summer.

moneypitfeeder
Member
# Posted: 23 May 2020 20:09
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Not sure whats in it (second part of the reason I haven't bought any yet), from what I can tell, the only posts from Zorro has been this thread. Makes me wonder about the product...the website doesn't list ingredients, which is a no-go for me.

zorro
Member
# Posted: 27 May 2020 09:48
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moneypitfeeder

Maybe you need to do some fact checking before posting in future regarding previous posts by me - i have posted a lot, covering several different categories...........building, batteries, inverters, generators, well, new camps, etc,

Additionally, i did not post any info on items or products - i was asking for recommendations!

So get the facts correct in future - makes a world of difference


In terms of the black flies

Was in the Adirondacks for the week (with zero internet service!!) and had not too bad success levels

I used Permethrin and sprayed all my outdoor clothes with it - seemed to work fairly well

Also used 100% deet sprays - again, not too bad

But the best thing was the hat and head net to keep the black flies off my face

I was working outside most of the time during the week and survived with only a few mosquito bits on my ankles and wrists - probably areas most open/not covered enough

Not a single bite or mark on my face or neck - so thanks for the recommendations

hueyjazz
Member
# Posted: 27 May 2020 12:20
Reply 


Well
I'm the one that posted the Woodsman's dope. I thought the question was, what works?

I spent many summers in the Adirondacks in the 70's as a Boy Scout counselor for Scout camps up there. The date range always put us in prime black fly season. 24/7 for weeks on end there was no hiding from them unless you went underwater. Our tents at that time we largely open canvas tents on a wood platform.

Trust me on this point. We use just about everything in existence at the time. By careful analysis on a large population sample, the Woodsman's dope worked the best. I think mainly as it wasn't too easy to sweat off. And we did plenty of sweating. There wasn't too much laying around for us.

Here's the ingredients
http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Product.jsp?REG_NR=00387000002&DIST_NR=003870

But use what makes you happy.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 27 May 2020 12:31 - Edited by: Brettny
Reply 


Thanks for that website on the ingredients..didnt know that existed.

I have read and found out my self that deet dosnt really work on black flys. I bet it's the pine tar and citronella that make the woodsman fly dope work and the mineral spirits is why people complain about the smell of kerosene. I wont be trying that stuff.

Zorro be careful with 100* deet, anything over 25-30* and your just extending the application interval anyway. A head net works and I'm sure a bug shirt works too but there both hard to keep in working order when your moving brush. This is what I was doing at my property a few weeks ago. I found the organic stuff I posted a link on works really well...and I'm not an organic freak. I would be useing deep woods off if it worked but we don't see a difference when useing deep woods. That richard organics stuff is actually for our dogs.

Last summer when the wife was pregnant and didnt want to use DEET we literally bought 7-9 deaf free products. Richard organics and a thermAcell are the only things that worked for her.

hueyjazz
Member
# Posted: 27 May 2020 13:58
Reply 


Woodsman dope does smell to high heaven. Nobody was putting that on and going on a date.

Well, unless she's wearing it too

moneypitfeeder
Member
# Posted: 31 May 2020 22:13
Reply 


To Zorro, I apologize, the original search I had done on your name hadn't brought up any threads other than this for some reason, I did another search this evening, and, yes, you have been a long time poster. I also mistakenly thought you as the OP were the one who introduced the product, scrolling on my phone apparently leads to problems. I'll look up the ingredients that hueyjazz provided.

KinAlberta
Member
# Posted: 3 Jun 2020 11:37 - Edited by: KinAlberta
Reply 


I’m amazed that this type of trap works. Plus it could be a future use to keep millions of those retail-counter covid-19 screens out of the landfills. To end the maintenance and cleanup issue one could suspend it over water or mount it to a fishing boat or dock to feed the fish


Man Builds Trap That Catches Thousands Of Horseflies

https://www.littlethings.com/horsefly-backyard-trap/


Catching Horseflies
https://youtu.be/mM1q2WzESAY

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