Black Flies??

uglyduck · 05-24-2007, 12:26 PM

Coming up for the Holiday Weekend. How are the Black Flies?

woodswalk · 05-24-2007, 12:36 PM

Can't speak for others but I've got to say I'm shocked. Mildest year I've seen in a long time. Mothers Day - Memorial Day is the rule I've gone by in the past. This year ... waiting, waiting, waiting and guess what? Even though Memorial Day is early this year, I feel we've really gotten away with something. OOPS!!!!- Was that the ultimate jinx???
Even if they do come on strong for some reason this late- just pick your time of day for the working around the yard or hiking stuff.

spotsink · 05-24-2007, 02:39 PM

We have not been down to the lake in a couple of weeks but the black flies have been pretty bad up around Sandwich and Squam...

We are hopeing that they are not bad at the lake as we will be there for the next week.

Anyone know where you can get some "Skin so Soft"

SAMIAM · 05-25-2007, 05:55 AM

We've been working outside for a couple of weeks .....spring cleanup,gardening etc. and not even had to reach for the Deep Woods Off yet.There are a few black flies around,but nothing like previous years.

Alton Mumma · 05-25-2007, 07:22 AM

It's not so bad where I am here in Alton. Although I got bit up a bit yesterday in my garden and wished I had some Bounce sheets. It's been worse before, that's for sure.

RLW · 05-25-2007, 08:19 AM

It hasn't been to bad up on Alton Mountain by the pond/lake. It could be because of the breeze off of the pond/lake, but has been comfortable working outside with just an occasional bite here an there.

GTO · 05-25-2007, 11:06 AM

I went up yesterday afternoon and was kayaking along the shore in Merideth into Center Harbor and they were out in numbers. If you were out away from the shore in the sun they didn't bother you but the minute you crossed into the shade line.....you were their lunch. Swarms of them.

Merrymeeting · 05-26-2007, 07:36 AM

No black flies in our area yesterday. That's the good news.

The bad news is they've probably all starved because the mosquitoes are so bad they are using up the available blood supply!

Waterbaby · 05-27-2007, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spotsink

We have not been down to the lake in a couple of weeks but the black flies have been pretty bad up around Sandwich and Squam...

We are hopeing that they are not bad at the lake as we will be there for the next week.

Anyone know where you can get some "Skin so Soft"

If you have a store like an Agway, check there -- the ones down here in the seacoast region all carry Skin So Soft, as do a couple of the hardware stores in the area.......... love when those nasty little things come in for a landing and slide off the runway, lol!

Argie's Wife · 05-28-2007, 12:16 PM

Okay, since you brought up the Skin-So-Soft, I have a question for y'all...

The kids have one of those monster wading pools - the kind with a little slide, games, etc - it's a lot of fun and they spend a lot of time on a warm sunny day in there...

But...

I've noticed the water gets "lively" after a couple of days (i.e. mosquito eggs/larve) - so I empty it out, clean it, refill it, and then the process is repeated every couple of days. It's a pain in the you-know-what.

What IF we put some Skin So Soft in the pool? Sounds crazy, but do you think it would work?

MJM · 05-29-2007, 08:00 AM

I used to put a small amount of chlorine in the kiddie pool....figured it'd keep the pool sanitary, and bugs die when they venture in.

Grant · 05-29-2007, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Okay, since you brought up the Skin-So-Soft, I have a question for y'all...

The kids have one of those monster wading pools - the kind with a little slide, games, etc - it's a lot of fun and they spend a lot of time on a warm sunny day in there...

But...

I've noticed the water gets "lively" after a couple of days (i.e. mosquito eggs/larve) - so I empty it out, clean it, refill it, and then the process is repeated every couple of days. It's a pain in the you-know-what.

What IF we put some Skin So Soft in the pool? Sounds crazy, but do you think it would work?

If the Skin-So-Soft leaves a light oil slick on the surface of the pool, it might inhibit mosquito larvae. The little suckers "breathe" through a tail-like thing, and if there's a thin layer of some kind of oil on the surface, they die.

KonaChick · 05-29-2007, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

Okay, since you brought up the Skin-So-Soft, I have a question for y'all...

The kids have one of those monster wading pools - the kind with a little slide, games, etc - it's a lot of fun and they spend a lot of time on a warm sunny day in there...

But...

I've noticed the water gets "lively" after a couple of days (i.e. mosquito eggs/larve) - so I empty it out, clean it, refill it, and then the process is repeated every couple of days. It's a pain in the you-know-what.

What IF we put some Skin So Soft in the pool? Sounds crazy, but do you think it would work?

I'm thinking it might make the pool so slippery that the kids will be slippin and slidin everywhere!!

SIKSUKR · 05-29-2007, 09:40 AM

I've used skin so soft for moquito repelent in the past with so so results.Not sure I would put it in my pool though.I would definately chlorinate it as MJM suggested.I've never had any larvae growing in my maintained pool water and you don't want other things from human waste growing in yours either.

secondcurve · 05-30-2007, 06:40 PM

Is it me or do the black flies seem to be few in numbers this year? They don't seem to be an issue in Tuftonboro this year.

DRH · 05-30-2007, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by secondcurve

Is it me or do the black flies seem to be few in numbers this year? They don't seem to be an issue in Tuftonboro this year.

Same here in West Alton. Usually, we expect that from Mother's Day through Father's Day the black flies will be awful. For some reason, this year they are pretty much a non-issue.

The mosquitoes, on the other hand, are vicious this year!

Alton Mumma · 05-30-2007, 09:31 PM

We had a TON of dragonflies in the yard today (her in Alton) and they were doing a great job. We had a lovely afternoon/evening out on the deck and only saw a few mosquitoes. Before the dragonflies showed up, oohhhhweee the mosquitoes were AWFUL!

05-24-2007, 12:26 PM	#1
uglyduck Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Black Flies?? Coming up for the Holiday Weekend. How are the Black Flies?

05-24-2007, 12:36 PM	#2
woodswalk Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: GIW NH Posts: 41 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	can't figure this one Can't speak for others but I've got to say I'm shocked. Mildest year I've seen in a long time. Mothers Day - Memorial Day is the rule I've gone by in the past. This year ... waiting, waiting, waiting and guess what? Even though Memorial Day is early this year, I feel we've really gotten away with something. OOPS!!!!- Was that the ultimate jinx??? Even if they do come on strong for some reason this late- just pick your time of day for the working around the yard or hiking stuff.

05-24-2007, 02:39 PM	#3
spotsink Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 76 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pretty bad just to the north... We have not been down to the lake in a couple of weeks but the black flies have been pretty bad up around Sandwich and Squam... We are hopeing that they are not bad at the lake as we will be there for the next week. Anyone know where you can get some "Skin so Soft"

05-25-2007, 07:22 AM	#5
Alton Mumma Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Alton NH Posts: 41 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It's not so bad where I am here in Alton. Although I got bit up a bit yesterday in my garden and wished I had some Bounce sheets. It's been worse before, that's for sure. __________________ Alton Mumma "Living with a toddler is like using a blender without the cover."

05-25-2007, 08:19 AM	#6
RLW Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alton Bay on the mountain by a lake Posts: 2,023 Thanks: 563 Thanked 444 Times in 311 Posts	Not bad on the mountain It hasn't been to bad up on Alton Mountain by the pond/lake. It could be because of the breeze off of the pond/lake, but has been comfortable working outside with just an occasional bite here an there. __________________ There is nothing better than living on Alton Mountain & our grand kids visits.

05-25-2007, 05:55 AM	#4
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,896 Thanks: 334 Thanked 1,676 Times in 586 Posts	We've been working outside for a couple of weeks .....spring cleanup,gardening etc. and not even had to reach for the Deep Woods Off yet.There are a few black flies around,but nothing like previous years.

05-25-2007, 11:06 AM	#7
GTO Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,085 Thanks: 338 Thanked 349 Times in 161 Posts	bad!! I went up yesterday afternoon and was kayaking along the shore in Merideth into Center Harbor and they were out in numbers. If you were out away from the shore in the sun they didn't bother you but the minute you crossed into the shade line.....you were their lunch. Swarms of them. __________________ GTO

05-26-2007, 07:36 AM	#8
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	No black flies in our area yesterday. That's the good news. The bad news is they've probably all starved because the mosquitoes are so bad they are using up the available blood supply!

05-28-2007, 12:16 PM	#10
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	Okay, since you brought up the Skin-So-Soft, I have a question for y'all... The kids have one of those monster wading pools - the kind with a little slide, games, etc - it's a lot of fun and they spend a lot of time on a warm sunny day in there... But... I've noticed the water gets "lively" after a couple of days (i.e. mosquito eggs/larve) - so I empty it out, clean it, refill it, and then the process is repeated every couple of days. It's a pain in the you-know-what. What IF we put some Skin So Soft in the pool? Sounds crazy, but do you think it would work?

05-29-2007, 08:00 AM	#11
MJM Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 262 Thanks: 0 Thanked 23 Times in 11 Posts	I used to put a small amount of chlorine in the kiddie pool....figured it'd keep the pool sanitary, and bugs die when they venture in.

05-29-2007, 09:40 AM	#14
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Ding Dong,,Avon calling I've used skin so soft for moquito repelent in the past with so so results.Not sure I would put it in my pool though.I would definately chlorinate it as MJM suggested.I've never had any larvae growing in my maintained pool water and you don't want other things from human waste growing in yours either. __________________ SIKSUKR

05-30-2007, 06:40 PM	#15
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,117 Thanks: 1,328 Thanked 559 Times in 288 Posts	Is it me or do the black flies seem to be few in numbers this year? They don't seem to be an issue in Tuftonboro this year.

05-30-2007, 09:31 PM	#17
Alton Mumma Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Alton NH Posts: 41 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	We had a TON of dragonflies in the yard today (her in Alton) and they were doing a great job. We had a lovely afternoon/evening out on the deck and only saw a few mosquitoes. Before the dragonflies showed up, oohhhhweee the mosquitoes were AWFUL! __________________ Alton Mumma "Living with a toddler is like using a blender without the cover."