[GraniteStater]

Black flies tend to bite my face so yes they are very annoying. In fact, I just received a nice bite right near my eye a few days ago. The hazards of enjoying the outdoors!

[looking4home]

Originally Posted by Dreamn

I'm becoming convinced that different states are getting a bad rap on the black flies. And not only that, but it appears that no particular state has the market cornered on them.

As you read these forums you can visit the Maine pages and they proclaim "oh, the horrible black flies." And in Vermont you get the same "oh, the horrible black flies."

Well, I've got bad news for some other folks: As we speak I'm sitting in a rural area of Maryland and "oh, the black flies are horrible." You can't walk in the yard, sit on the porch or anything else without getting chomped on. Of course, pretty soon the deer flies will be showing up too.

So in conclusion, I think the black flies are a geographic product of every state. And having seen them in places like out in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay (while boating), apparently they're not afraid to attack over water either.

That's strange because I've always considered them a northern New England problem. As you sure they are black flies? They could be something else similar, but just as obnoxious.

[Dreamn]

Originally Posted by looking4home

That's strange because I've always considered them a northern New England problem. As you sure they are black flies? They could be something else similar, but just as obnoxious.

The article doesn't list all the states, but does specifically mention Pennsylvania, so that leaves me to believe we are talking about the same fly.

How about this?

"DEET-based insect repellents may attract greater numbers of black flies;"

Black fly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[sugarmaple]

Yes! and I live on the Black River where it appears to be one of their most favorite hangouts!

[jenny1951]

The absolute worst black flies I have ever encountered was in the Adirondacks. My mom and me (city slickers) hiked a mountain trail in mid-May, wearing shorts and t-shirts and of course no bug spray. Halfway up my mom said she could just sit down and die right there. We came back full of bites, the worst on the back of our necks. Those little suckers leave major welts. I have since found After-Bite, which helps with the itching.

[sugarmaple]

I think close to the major annoyance of black flies, next comes cluster flies!

[Woof]

Pennyroyal is an herb traditionally used to repel flies. I don't know if it works, but I've heard about it for ages .... literally. Probably the best way to use it is to go to a healthfood store and look for natural bug repellents containing it.