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Old 05-22-2008, 02:09 PM
 
Location: Chisago Lakes, Minnesota
3,816 posts, read 6,441,822 times
Reputation: 6567

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Man, this is my first year dealing with these black flies up here in northern MI. These things are a freekin' PLAGUE! Tried to do a bike ride down at Bayfront Park today, and was absolutely engulfed by black flies. They are literally carpeting the surface of the ground, the rocks at the lakeshore, all the tables and benches......and you can't outrun them - they just float right along with you no matter how fast you pedal. They get in your nose, your ears, your mouth, all up in your clothes - HOLY #*@!!#&!!

Someone from this region give me some comfort, please! I read one article saying these things stay around until July - please tell me that isn't true. I don't remember dealing with them last year, as I moved up here in June.
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Old 05-22-2008, 02:18 PM
 
Location: Charlevoix
749 posts, read 2,771,034 times
Reputation: 641
lol, welcome to the North! Hate to tell you, its true
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Old 05-22-2008, 02:23 PM
 
Location: NE philadelphia
550 posts, read 2,051,930 times
Reputation: 207
Quote:
Originally Posted by Northman View Post
Man, this is my first year dealing with these black flies up here in northern MI. These things are a freekin' PLAGUE! Tried to do a bike ride down at Bayfront Park today, and was absolutely engulfed by black flies. They are literally carpeting the surface of the ground, the rocks at the lakeshore, all the tables and benches......and you can't outrun them - they just float right along with you no matter how fast you pedal. They get in your nose, your ears, your mouth, all up in your clothes - HOLY #*@!!#&!!

Someone from this region give me some comfort, please! I read one article saying these things stay around until July - please tell me that isn't true. I don't remember dealing with them last year, as I moved up here in June.
i don't ever remember them lasting that long....if they stick around til july then it is DEFINITELY not in those numbers-their bites don't hurt....it's only if you are allergic to their bites that they itch later i am a lucky person who is not allergic to bug bites-mosquitoes hurt when they bite me but i never have evidence that i was ever bitten...and i only ever remember having mysterious blood or little scabs from blackfly bites then that was it...good luck!
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Old 05-22-2008, 02:29 PM
 
Location: Charlevoix
749 posts, read 2,771,034 times
Reputation: 641
Black fly bites DO hurt, they can make you bleed
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Old 05-22-2008, 03:22 PM
 
Location: NE philadelphia
550 posts, read 2,051,930 times
Reputation: 207
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michigansnowflake View Post
Black fly bites DO hurt, they can make you bleed

i know many people myself included that all of a sudden you have blood in a small area and you know you were bitten by a black fly-i have never felt it-i am lucky where i do not react to bug bites except maybe a horsefly (ouch!)....if you feel it then maybe i am wrong-but maybe it is because you start having the allergic reaction right away...

i'll just call myself lucky
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Old 05-22-2008, 03:27 PM
 
Location: West Michigan
12,083 posts, read 38,840,284 times
Reputation: 17006
I used to think the black flies in the UP and Northern lower were bad... then I spent time in Northern Maine. I thank God for the numbers Michigan gets of those black flying devils. Trust me it could be MUCH worse.

Like an old Canadian told me one time. Mosquitoes drill for lunch, black flies strip mine for it. I think he hit it right on the head with that observation.
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Old 05-22-2008, 07:38 PM
 
Location: Holland, MI
51 posts, read 212,865 times
Reputation: 39
Default Waging a One-Woman War Against Black Flies

Holy cow! I had no idea they were in the UP.
I heard this piece on All Things Considered last year and I remember being horrified at the thought of those things. Waging a One-Woman War Against Black Flies : NPR
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Old 05-23-2008, 10:30 AM
 
Location: At the end of the road, where the trail begins.
760 posts, read 2,440,330 times
Reputation: 353
Depends on where you are. Last year I only ever saw them on the beaches of Little Presque Isle once. Other then that I never had to deal with them. So far this year I haven't seen a single one. I've killed two mosquitos so far.
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Old 03-11-2009, 07:01 PM
 
Location: Georgia
5 posts, read 29,110 times
Reputation: 11
Red face Black flies!!!

Oh how those black flies hate me!!! I am from the south (Georgia) and will be moving up to northern Michigan next June. I hope someone can tell me something to help with the black flies. I can't go outside without a cap or something on my head. I was told it was because I have really light brown hair, but the love to bite me on top of my head. I don't feel anything till later and then it itches so bad. I end up with sores on top of my head. I was told to bomb the house about every 3 or 4 months. Does anyone have any advice for this southern lady????
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Old 03-11-2009, 07:14 PM
 
Location: NW Michigan
265 posts, read 801,270 times
Reputation: 412
That's one good thing about the winters in the northern part of the state. No bugs!

I usually have pretty good results using Off! Deep Woods. There are other things you can try so see what's going to work for you.

How to Get Rid of Black Flies
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