It’s that time of year. The black flies are out and they’re biting. I’m going to try something new this year. I’ll “sticky” a weekly report to the top of the page. You can email reports to me or you can leave your report in the comment section. I’ll close the report at the beginning of each week, open a new one, and create the traditional map.
May 23-29, 2012
May 16-22, 2012
May 16, 2012
May 9, 2012
May 3, 2012
All in all it has been a pretty mild black fly season up here in the woods. Still a few around, and after all the rain, when the sun comes out we do seem to have a little flurry of activity with them.
I still would not venture far without the bug spray, but I have only put it on once this season!
Granted, I may be a little stubborn about using it, but when they get real bad and I have to be out in them, I will use it.
I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July and that the weather is fine and the black flies stay low key!
Today the black flys have been very active. Still not horrid, but you know that they were here!
Even a walk in the woods did not give me cause to put on the bug dope, but I would not venture far without having it close by.
A few days of showers and sun, but still the blackflys are not out with a vengeance. Even my guests are not complaining about them so I know it is not just my tolerance, but truly just not too bad yet.
Hot weather coming next week, so the heat should help keep them away during the middle of the day.
It helps being on the shore of the pond as there is usually a little breeze to keep the critters struggling to reach me!
As the weather improved yesterday, the blackflys started venturing out. Still not bad, I have yet to use any fly dope.
Personally I find that if I let them chew on me a bit, the immunity and tolerance level increases.
For many years now I can count the number of times I use fly dope on one hand. (Usually about 3 or 4 times a year)
The cool weather up around the West Branch of the Penobscot this week has kept the little beasties at bay.
So far this season they have not been too bad, even on the warmer days.
Now that is welcome news! Thanks so much.
I’m headed to the Sandy Point, ME area this weekend (June 9) for a week’s stay. I’ve been there some years (like last year) when we hardly saw any black flies. Other years they have been plentiful and vicious. What should we expect this year? Thanks!
What’s the status on the black flies? Would you say in their prime or maybe in a week?
Thanks!
It’s hard to tell. The weather has changed so much that I think the black flies are confused. The sun is out and going to stay out for the next 8-9 days according to this morning’s forecast. I think that’s going to be enough warmth to have them swarming in a matter of days. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are prime in a week. That’s probably a very good call.
It’s hard to say precisely how bad they’ll be, but I’m sure they’ll still be out. Bring plenty of bug spray, light weight long sleeve shirts and if you wear one, a hat. They’re seldom out all day. When the temperature warms they’re usually down for the day and don’t come back out until early evening.
WE WILL BE THERE JUNE 7-11TH HOW BAD WILL THE FLYS BE
If the wind continues to blow like it has been so far this week, they won’t be bad. If it warms up and the wind dies down, they might be horrible. The black flies are unpredictable this year, mostly because of the weather.