Recently on the FLT email list a discussion ensued about how to fend off deer flies.
Alex Gonzalez asked for ideas about how to thwart them since deer flies are “so numerous and ferocious — relentless really” this year.
He lamented, “It’s too hot to wear even lightweight head nets. You can’t outrun them: they travel along with my truck when I drive on forest roads! They don’t give a *&^%$#@ about DEET. They bite through summer clothing, especially when it’s wet from sweat.”
People tended to agree that DEET alone was less than effective against black flies. And, the flies attraction seemed to vary by person (or is it that some people are more attractive??), plus their prevalence varied by location. Everyone agreed they were a nuisance – and even dangerous.
So here, is the trail-tested wisdom of local outdoors folks for thwarting deer flies, black flies, and everything else that flies, buzzes and bites:
Judy Read suggested reading this link to the University of Florida website of a professor of entomology. http://ufinsect.ifas.ufl.edu/deerfly_trap.htm
Tim Sweeney suggested trying a product called Bye-Bye Blackfly (sold at Gander Mountain). He tested it in the Adirondacks, and it seemed effective. (Although he also applied DEET and a Citronella product.)
Bob Emerson added that in the Summer 1993 FLT Newsletter (Vol. 32, No. 2, p.9), Georgeanne Scalzo listed a recipe from the Keystone Trails Association Newsletter that had two of the same ingredients as the Bye-Bye Blackfly. They are Citronella and cedar oils; although camphor oil was also in the older recipe. He tried it and found it effective.
Another trick Tim Sweeney suggested is to purchase some Buffs. They are lightweight and breathable. You can spray DEET on it and then pull it over your head. This provides a fabric barrier they have to get through.
Finally, Tim recommends carrying a rag or hankie. Then swinging it back and forth going from one side of your head to the other. This might take out a few of them.
According to Travis Money, his friends place a dryer sheet in their pockets/hats and they swear it works as a deer fly deterrent. He tried it during his trail runs and it didn’t seem to deter them.
Jon Kapecki added that deer flies are not only a painful nuisance, but they can also spread some serious diseases, possibly even Lyme disease, according to one journal article.
A combination product, like Sawyer’s DEET Plus Insect Repellent (also known as Sawyer’s Broad Spectrum Composite Spray), is supposed to work on both the usual DEET-adverse bugs as well as biting flies. Its additional active ingredient is di-n-propyl isocinchomeronate, a/k/a R326, a biting fly repellent.
Permethrin, which should be applied to clothes not to skin, works better than DEET for biting flies (it is also a good tick repellent). It’s often used on horses and other domestic animals as a fly repellent. I personally have had good luck using this product.
Both the Ohio and Colorado State universities extension departments have recommended a non-chemical stick-on patch for hats called Tred-Not Deer Fly Patches. It’s sort of like sticky fly paper. Jon has never seen the product locally nor tried it, but there are several places that advertise it on-line (for example, http://www.flypatch.com/, http://www.tucker-usa.com/users/stieg/deerfly.htm) You’ll look sort of strange walking down the trail, but if it works….
One thing that Mike has found to be somewhat effective is to wear a hat with a cloth at the back of the net ala French Foreign Legion style. A bandanna at the back of a cap will work, too. This keeps them from biting the back of his neck which is where they usually get him.
Still along the hat theme, Kurt Seitz says solution he’s used for many years is to wear a wide-brimmed hat covered with your choice of insect repellent. Deer flies will generally not venture much below the repellent-covered brim. The only repellent he will ever use on his skin is a mild all-natural one.
The bright light at the end of the tunnel: the deer flies will start dying off in early August and outdoor activities will be much more enjoyable.
I have used the Tred-not deerfly patches and they work like a dream. I can hear the ba-zoom just once, and that’s that! If you check out my blog at http://www.saratogawoodswaters.blogspot.com you will find a post from a week or so ago with a photo of my hat with over 100 trapped deerflies. I can’t remember who I bought them from, but if you Google Tred-not Deerfly Patches I’m sure you will find a place to buy them. They cost about 50cents apiece and are worth more than gold!
Thanks for sharing your experience Jackie. I looked at your blog – gorgeous! So many beautiful photos. I hope lots of people take the time to click over to it. Sue
What about deer flies?