[angelo129]

Ok, Vermonters, I know this will probably get a laugh but we'd really like to know the answer.

My husband and I are considering an opportunity in Vermont. We've never lived there, but have lived in many other places and really know what we like (cold weather, mountains) and what we don't like (hot, crowded, buggy places). And now we come to my question: is there a lot of pushy insect life in Vermont?

I ask this question because we've made four brief visits and, on each occasion, noticed something that we haven't come across in other places (at least, not in places that appeal to us). That is, rooms that we've stayed in in supposedly nice (and definitely not cheap) hotels were full of flies - flies flying around in big clouds, dead flies all over the windowsills, in the sinks, etc. We loved Vermont but hated the flies and have really never seen anything like this - it all but drove us mad, and we felt in need of mosquito netting over our bed as if we were in the tropics or in a barn full of horses. So - what's with the flies?

[vter]

Yes-bugs. Welcome to Vermont! In spring/early summer come the black flies and right now the deer flies are out in force. Have not seen many mosquitos yet in my neck of the woods.
It's key to have a nice screened in porch so you can enjoy summer evenings "outside".

[68vette]

Sounds like the Vermont state bird, the Cluster Fly.

[Bang!]

Sounds like angelo129 had a run in with Cluster Flies. They're similar to ordinary house flies but when the temp is right hatch in large batches often by the thousands. Ive seen houses like what you describe with the floors covered with dead flies. I'm told this is only a problem with older houses that aren't sealed well. The flies lay eggs under the clap-boards or under wood siding and when the larva hatch they move inside rather than outside and like magic the house is full of flies even though all the windows and doors are shut tight.

[RunawayJim]

It's definitely buggy, but I've never experienced what you suggest with the bugs all over the rooms like that. This is after staying in 3 separate places last week and 2 summers ago in another place. It was buggy outside, but they're closed out pretty easily.

[Vermonr]

There used to be a board about this that stretched on for quite a few pages, but I'm afraid it's no longer active and I couldn't find it. Yep, everyone is right, we get lots of bugs. In my neck of the woods we used to get AWFUL mosquitoes, to the point where you would go outside for a couple minutes and get about 20 bites. I don't think that's typical of all of Vermont though- Brandon is in a swamp.

We get flies too of course- the horse and deer flies are the worse. But we get nice bugs too! I like seeing the millipedes (arachnids I think, technically, but close enough), the dragonflies, and the caterpillars/butterflies.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by Vermonr

There used to be a board about this that stretched on for quite a few pages, but I'm afraid it's no longer active and I couldn't find it. Yep, everyone is right, we get lots of bugs. In my neck of the woods we used to get AWFUL mosquitoes, to the point where you would go outside for a couple minutes and get about 20 bites. I don't think that's typical of all of Vermont though- Brandon is in a swamp.

We get flies too of course- the horse and deer flies are the worse. But we get nice bugs too! I like seeing the millipedes (arachnids I think, technically, but close enough), the dragonflies, and the caterpillars/butterflies.

If I'm not mistaken, Brandon was hit hard when the west nile virus showed up (hit hard as in lots of mosquitoes carrying it compared to some other parts of VT). I've never experienced bugs like Brandon elsewhere. In one night of camping there once I had dozens and dozens of bites, and I was using spray and a mosquito net on my head. It is swampy though, Brandon Swamp is good for the wildlife, not so good for people sensitive to bugs...beautiful area for those who can appreciate the swampy side of Nature.

[68vette]

The mosquitoes are predicted to be awful this year due to the declining bat population.
Cluster flies are common in most areas of the state. As mentioned they tend to be found in older homes. Once you experience cluster flies, you will never forget cluster flies.

[j_jimerino]

Bang! said it more or less, the building are often old and full of cluster flies. Even newer houses get them though sometimes. Cluster flies are gross, but they're usually half brain dead and easy enough to suck up with a vacume cleaner.

The deer flies have never been worse in my lifetime than this year. Now that the heatwave has settled down I'm trying to do some yard work and they attack me the entire time. I go to get the mail, and 3 buzz around me trying to bite. And for anyone who's ever been bitten by a deer fly, you'll know it...they draw blood.

Vermont bugs are the main reason I wear pants year round. And they make you long for winter sometimes. I was thinking last night that I might get some of that netting you hang over a hat to cover your face.

I tried a new technique for defeating the deer flies last night, that I heard about at work. I covered a baseball cap with duct tape, sticky side up. It was disgustingly effective. I don't think it even consistently caught them, but their so blood thirsty they'll land on it over and over again until it gets them.

My other arch nemesis are carpenter ants, I wage war with them every summer and its a constant battle to just hold the line. If I could, I'd make their whole species go extinct.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by angelo129

Ok, Vermonters, I know this will probably get a laugh but we'd really like to know the answer.

My husband and I are considering an opportunity in Vermont. We've never lived there, but have lived in many other places and really know what we like (cold weather, mountains) and what we don't like (hot, crowded, buggy places). And now we come to my question: is there a lot of pushy insect life in Vermont?

I ask this question because we've made four brief visits and, on each occasion, noticed something that we haven't come across in other places (at least, not in places that appeal to us). That is, rooms that we've stayed in in supposedly nice (and definitely not cheap) hotels were full of flies - flies flying around in big clouds, dead flies all over the windowsills, in the sinks, etc. We loved Vermont but hated the flies and have really never seen anything like this - it all but drove us mad, and we felt in need of mosquito netting over our bed as if we were in the tropics or in a barn full of horses. So - what's with the flies?

I'm dealing with this now. We get deer-flies two months a year and they are bad for one month. The past
two weeks have been brutal and they won't be gone until the beginning of August. We have no problem with them in the house though, or even on our front porch, They don't like cover.

However, there are many properties in town that get nothing but mosquitoes. It all depends on your property-is it near running water, standing water, animals.

They suck, they are the biggest con of my property. I have an electric racket bug zapper. Still I'd buy my house again in a second.

If this is a concern to you, and I can see why, look for property in June and July and not September and October.

New England and upstate NY are buggy- no question.