How to Deal with those Pesky Black Flies

Now that spring has sprung, those in the Northland brace themselves for the season of black flies and mosquitoes. When people meet friends and neighbors, talk of in­festation levels, tales of prior years’ horrors, and new ideas of how to coexist with them replace laments of aging and current health issues. The tiny pests actually help us by distracting us from our troubles.

One of our faithful readers, Car­ole Flack, the friendly face of the pharmacy in Grand Marais, sug­gested we address this buzzing is­sue with potential ideas to repel the pests.

“You should see the many cra­zy, funny, and solid ideas people come up with while I’m working the pharmacy to help the tourists combat these mini pests that eat us ALIVE!!!” she wrote. “It’s like our own urban legend.”

Black flies, sometimes called buf­falo gnats, fish flies, winged gnats, or just “gnats” (though they’re dif­ferent from typical house gnats), are notorious. Carole often hears them called little monsters. These small, biting insects become a sig­nificant nuisance in late spring and early summer. They belong to the Simuliidae family within the order Diptera (true flies).

Like mosquitoes, only the females bite; male black flies feed on nectar. Unlike mosquitoes, black flies have blade-like mouthparts to cut or slash a small hole in the skin. Like mosquitoes, black flies are attract­ed to carbon dioxide, which we ex­hale with every breath. Sweat and fragrances also attract them. They swarm around the head, face, neck, and oth­er exposed skin, fre­quently crawling into hair, under clothing, or openings like sleeves.

In insect-prone ar­eas like ours, a broad range of commercial repellents is available at local stores. All are marketed as effective, but some aren’t. Check with friends and outfit­ters to find a good op­tion.

Many folks, particularly those living in or frequently visiting the Northwoods, have a repertoire of home remedies they swear by.

Carole writes, “I’ve heard every­thing from spraying yourself with vinegar to dryer sheets under your hat to full-body bug suits. For me, nothing beats a bug hat and a prayer for the dragonfly hatch.”

Dragonflies are the mortal ene­mies of black flies and mosquitoes. When they begin their annual hatch, which is likely soon, they devour millions of their peskier fellow in­sects daily. Despite their appear­ance, locals see them as a welcome relief.

Here are some home repellents you may want to try:

Vanilla Extract is a popular natu­ral repellent. Many folks dab pure vanilla extract (not imitation) di­rectly onto exposed skin. The the­ory is that the sweet, pungent scent masks the CO2 and other odors that attract black flies. Some dilute it with water in a spray bottle.

Some people believe that con­suming garlic regularly (eating fresh cloves or taking garlic sup­plements) makes your blood or skin less appealing to biting insects. The idea is that the sulfur compounds released through your skin deter the bugs. Just be aware that this will likely make you less popular with humans!

Some take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar orally a few times a day, starting a few days before ex­posure, to make their skin less at­tractive to flies. Others mix it with water and apply it topically as a spray.

Various essential oils are popu­lar because they have strong scents that the flies dislike, and some peo­ple dislike. Popular choices include lavender, cedarwood, rosemary, peppermint, and eucalyptus. Cit­ronella, in candles and oils, some­times does the trick.

Given the abundance of pine trees in Northern Minnesota, some long-time residents break open a young pine branch and rub the sap or mois­ture onto their skin or clothing. The strong, resinous scent is a deterrent.

Many locals emphasize ditching anything with a sweet or strong fra­grance. They use unscented laundry detergent, fabric softener, soaps, shampoos, and deodorants. They avoid perfumes, colognes, and strongly scented hair products.

Locals and frequent visitors know that covering up is the best defense. Black flies are attracted to dark colors, so wear light-colored cloth­ing, long-sleeved shirts, and pants. Tucking pants into socks can stop the ankle-biters. Headnets are in­dispensable for protecting the face.

Around the home, a simple os­cillating fan can make porches or patios tolerable. A classic outdoor remedy is smoke from a campfire. However, smoke isn’t always good for the eyes. Some wags even rec­ommend smoking a pipe or cigar to create a ring of smoke to deter the little ones.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to the blackfly and mosqui­to problem, remember that they’re just a temporary nuisance. You can find ways to coexist with them, and in a few months, winter will be back, and they’ll be gone.