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Old 03-29-2008, 06:34 PM
 
Location: Central NH
1,004 posts, read 2,345,777 times
Reputation: 1067

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man View Post
Black flies are not like mosquitos. They don't drill for blood as mosquitos do. Black flies just rip out chunks of flesh. It's awful. Survivors of black fly attacks come into pharmacies looking for some magic remedy. Alas, there is no remedy. They must go back to New Jersey all swollen up and looking like they had been hunting with Dick Cheney.

Mainers just ignore black flies. After a few million bites you just become immune. I believe that after a while you begin to taste bad to the black flies and they somehow regard you as being all used up.
There really is something to be said about that. 2 of the guys that work for me are live long friends. We are all from the same town and grew up together. We all are active outdoors and black flies are just part of New England life. Another guy comes from CO. The black flies swarm him like nothing I've seen. We played it up to his soap or something but even when he swapped to the same brand nothing helped.
I used to brag that all my beer drinking must keep the bugs at bay but I've not drank in years.
We do eat a lot of garlic, onions and spices in general. Maybe that's the deterrent. I don't know, but for the most part I just try not to think about them and keep busy.
It is a little funny to see my buddy from CO running around the site with a cloud of black flies around his head - like Pigpen on Charlie Brown
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Old 03-29-2008, 11:08 PM
 
1,963 posts, read 4,754,419 times
Reputation: 1817
I feel sorry for your buddy from CO!
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Old 03-30-2008, 08:23 AM
 
Location: Free Palestine, Ohio!
2,724 posts, read 6,427,044 times
Reputation: 4866
Hopefully this won't spread to Maine or we will have a lot more bugs.
Biologists seek clues as bats die off | Portland Press Herald (http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=178081&ac=PHnws - broken link)
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Old 03-30-2008, 08:35 AM
 
Location: :0)1 CORINTHIANS,13*"KYRIE, ELEISON"*"CHRISTE ELEISON"
3,078 posts, read 6,199,946 times
Reputation: 6002
Talking Hello 7th Generation! Interesting Info!

THANKS FOR THE POST & LINK!!


Take care,

Have a Great Day Everyone!!

Countrylv22



Quote:
Originally Posted by 7th generation View Post
Hopefully this won't spread to Maine or we will have a lot more bugs.
Biologists seek clues as bats die off | Portland Press Herald (http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=178081&ac=PHnws - broken link)

Last edited by countrylv22; 03-30-2008 at 08:37 AM.. Reason: SMILE AT SOMEONE TODAY!! :0) IT WORKS! :0)
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Old 03-30-2008, 09:38 AM
 
Location: Southern Maine, Greater Portland
513 posts, read 897,253 times
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Black flies seem to be more heavily inland, No-see-ums are near the ocean (little small biting bugs that are hard to see) hence the name. Mosquitos like wet areas like ponds, streams, bogs etc, The mostly come out beginning at dusk; they don't like heat and wind. Horse flies are big green biting flies, they hurt and don't forget deer flies, they hurt too. It's just part of Maine living. We all have our own special ways of dealing with them and favorite products to use to get rid of them. I don't like them but living in Maine is worth dealing with the little buggers...
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Old 03-30-2008, 11:30 AM
 
Location: 43.55N 69.58W
3,231 posts, read 7,466,204 times
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The bugs don't bite me either. Neither black flies or mosquitoes like me. I have a pretty dark complection due to as much time as possible spent in the sun so I had decided that my skin must be too "leather like" for them to penetrate. Oh well, it's their loss because I think I'm pretty sweet!

I must be too fast for the green heads (deer flies/ horse flies) as I've always managed to swat them before they were able to bite.
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Old 03-30-2008, 12:36 PM
 
7,150 posts, read 10,901,838 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mainesnowflake View Post
Black flies seem to be more heavily inland, No-see-ums are near the ocean (little small biting bugs that are hard to see) hence the name.
I am curious as to people's opinions on how far is "inland" and where does "near the ocean" end. Is it your experience that both the insect plagues of blackflies and no-see-ums are a gradual increase/decrease respectively with proximity to salt-shoreline? Or are there other factors involved as well?
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Old 03-30-2008, 12:37 PM
 
Location: Southern Maine, Greater Portland
513 posts, read 897,253 times
Reputation: 528
I must be too fast for the green heads (deer flies/ horse flies) as I've always managed to swat them before they were able to bite.[/quote]




When they bite it hurts and they leave a swell on your skin. Sometimes I can get em but they just sneak up on you when your not looking and the next thing you know............ Ahhhhh.
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Old 03-30-2008, 12:46 PM
 
Location: Southern Maine, Greater Portland
513 posts, read 897,253 times
Reputation: 528
Quote:
Originally Posted by nullgeo View Post
I am curious as to people's opinions on how far is "inland" and where does "near the ocean" end. Is it your experience that both the insect plagues of blackflies and no-see-ums are a gradual increase/decrease respectively with proximity to salt-shoreline? Or are there other factors involved as well?

I live in a coastal town and the no-see-ums are annoying, we get mosquito's but no black flies. I have a friend that lives in Standish and the black flies are awful and the deer flies too.

When we go to the lake the deer flies and horse flies are very pesty. I'm not sure where the line is as to where they stop I just know from my own experience that no matter where you are in Maine there is a pesty annoying bug just waiting to bite you.
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Old 04-01-2008, 03:40 PM
 
Location: Connecticut
26 posts, read 129,593 times
Reputation: 23
As a kid I spent summers in Fayette on a lake and the black flies were ferocious. As I remember they were worst during certain times of the day.
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