Nc Bugs!!!!! (Asheville, Star: vacation, work, health)

[PDXsailor]

So, I was reading in another thread about all of the bugs in NC, and I find it amazing that there can be so many bugs. Are there less bugs closer to the mountains, say Asheville? What about the coast, more or less bugs?

We don't believe in using any sort of pesticide or even chemical fertilizers in our yard (we use natural stuff) here in Portland Oregon, so if bug spray is a standard practice in NC, I am not sure if I would even want to go there on vacation. Please tell me that it is only bad in rural areas..... roaches, termites, and Chiggers, oh my.....

[Bear Creek]

No. As my daughter says, "More woods, more bugs." Of, course there more bugs as you go towards the Gulf and the Missiissippi River. I grew up in the mountains near Asheville. There are bugs there. But I never paid any attention to them, unless I got stung, which was a couple times each summer. Really,they're nothing to be afriad of, just annoying.

[skymax_taf]

I have lived here most of my life. Been able to travel and even work in other places, so my response to bugs in NC will be measured against other places. Starting at the coast you have fire ants and mosquitoes mostly that are a pain. Both are easily avoided for the most part during the day. At night, normal precautions will prevent most from brothering you.

Middle part of the state is starting to see fire ants. Biggest problem there and in the foothill country is spiders. Again normal precautions should prevent any issues.

In the mountains, you have regular ants and spiders. Those ants love picnics so guard your picnic basket well. Spiders there and in the foothills can be widows, so some prior thought about dressing before hiking can help in having a good day outside.

One other creature that can be a problem if outdoors much - ticks. We do have them and they can cause health issues. I hike, camp and whitewater - so I check and then have someone else check me for ticks after I get back.

Other than those, most are normal (bees, flys, nats, etc..) being in the family of helping nature or being a pest. One joke here -- if you are down east and see people in their yards as you drive by waving at you, you might think they are being overly freely. Might be, but also could be waving away nats.

[PDXsailor]

Are the mosquitos out year round? Or only during summer?

[Bear Creek]

Can't speak for the rest of the state but in the mountains, only during the summer. And they are mainly near water, streams or lakes. You try not to have any stagnant water near your house. That attracts them.

[skymax_taf]

On the coast, do not walk through the grass, else, you are going to be lunch. They mostly will stay in the grass until night time. Then, I have been camping on the outer banks and felt like B52s were coming in for a landing. I have one thing going for me, they generally do not like my blood preferring my brother. That's why I love to go camping with him

[Flatlander]

What about the cave and/or camelback crickets? I actually have these in and around my house just outside of Chicago IL; they're the ugliest thing you've ever seen and impossible to kill because they jump quickly and then they're gone.

I went into a home in Asheville (while looking at properties) and was disgusted to see one and it was 3x bigger than in IL. Ugh.