The Awful Truth Of Bugs In The UP: Year-Round Advice | RV Lifestyle (2024)

FAQs

How bad are black flies in Upper Peninsula? ›

Anyone who lives in or has roamed the Upper Peninsula can tell you that black flies are a nuisance to be reckoned with. In fact, the black flies in Michigan's Upper Peninsula attack in large swarms and like to bite around the ears and face — leaving you swollen and itchy in the worst areas possible!

While mosquitos are a normal thing in the spring and summer they seem to be particularly bad right now across much of Upper Michigan.

Key Takeaways. Due to climate change and global warming, pest populations are increasing, and people in and around Northern California (and around the globe) are seeing more bugs and pests during the summer months.

Fly season begins in early summer but then builds to a crescendo in September. In fact, the month of September in Idaho marks the grand finale of Fly season. Why is September the worst month for flies and not July?

Vanilla extract, pine, or lavender oil repels biting black flies and mosquitoes too. Herbs like anise, basil, cedarwood, coriander, lemongrass, and mint may work to repel black flies and can be planted in flower boxes or pots and around the edges of your yard. Garlic plants are also reported to have a repelling effect.

Black flies prefer confined areas around wrists, ankles, and ears. They can't fly in wind (any wind) or bite through thin clothing or long underwear. Unlike mosquitoes, black flies won't bite when confined inside a tent.

There are only two known places with no mosquitoes: Antarctica and Iceland. The conditions in Antarctica are not fit for mosquitoes, as there is not enough food, places to burrow, or warm conditions for flying.

#1 Louisiana

Louisiana takes the cake as the most mosquito-prone state. The Bayou State's hot and humid summers provide the perfect breeding ground for these pesky insects. In 2022, the average temperature from May-July was 81.3°F.

Mosquitoes have been found breeding up to 8,000 feet in the Himalayas and 2000 feet underground in mines in India.

What US state has the least bugs? ›

– Florida has a bad reputation, at least when it comes to bugs. In a national survey, homeowners ranked Florida as the state with the worst bug infestation problems – including ants, termites and co*ckroaches. Louisiana and Texas were runners-up.

Chiggers are found just about anywhere across the United States, but their larval activity (biting stage) varies depending on the region and climate. So, if you live in Michigan, the larval activity may be around two months, but if you reside in Florida, chiggers could be a year-round nuisance.

Humans become infected when blackflies deposit Onchocerca infective larvae into the skin when biting to extract blood. Once inside the human body, the larvae mature into adults in approximately 12–18 months. Most adult female worms live in fibrous nodules under the skin and sometimes near muscles and joints.

Adult house flies are affected by temperature as much as their young, becoming inactive when temperatures fall below 45 degrees and dying when they fall below 32. Because house flies thrive in hot environments and die off in colder ones, they are generally a summertime pest, rather than an autumn or winter one.

Flies seem to HATE pine-sol. To make the fly repelling spray, mix the original Pine-Sol with water, at a ratio of 50/50 and put it in a spray bottle. Use to wipe counters or spray on the porch and patio table and furniture to drive the flies away.

ACV to the Rescue! Apple cider vinegar is an old-timey remedy that many say helps with mosquitoes, black flies, and ticks. Start three to four days before your planned outdoor activity and take a tablespoon of vinegar three to four times a day to help your skin ward off biting bugs on its own.

BF's are an important fish food, and trout often intercept the emerging adults as they float to the surface. Birds, amphibians, and fellow-insects like dragonflies also eat their share of BFs that escape into the air.

Like eye gnats, they fly around people's heads, occasionally getting into eyes and ears as well as crawling in the hair.

Thrips do invade homes, possibly brought in on potted plants, and some species have been known to bite humans. If thrips populations are not controlled, affected flowering plants may lose their ability to produce.

What kills black flies? ›

The only available effective treatment is a microbial pesticide containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis or Bti, which must be metered into the water in weekly treatments during periods of peak black fly activity. These products are also effective against mosquitoes.

Alaska Mosquito Tips

Wear khaki, white, neutral colors, or colors with short wavelengths like blue or green. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors with long wavelengths like black, red, and orange. Don't use scented soaps, lotions, or shampoos.

Mosquitoes Enjoy Hanging Out at the Beach

Plus, you get that breeze off the ocean, which some people believe keeps mosquito activity at bay. It does not. You can get mosquito bites at the beach, too. That's because mosquitoes tend to gather wherever there's water.

Dragonflies as well as being a natural predator of the mosquito are a fascinating and unique group of insects. Dragonflies are often referred to as "mosquito hawks" for their supposed ability to kill thousands of mosquitoes.

It is the largest blood sucking mosquito in the U.S. Commonly referred to as the "Shaggy-legged" Gallinipper. It is easy to identify by its large size and it inflicts a painful bite.

Experts and studies from Colorado State University Extension and the American Mosquito Control Association concluded that bug zappers are not effective at controlling biting mosquitoes.

How High Can a Dengue Mosquito Fly? The dengue mosquito can fly up to 50+ feet above the ground. That's why they are likely to be found on the seventh or the tenth floor. The dengue mosquito can fly up to 400 meters in search of a container with one inch of water or another convenient location for breeding.

◾️ What temperature kills mosquitoes? Many mosquitoes will die off when the thermostat drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. However, other types of mosquitoes will only go dormant or reduce their activity come colder weather.

New York City alone has more than 4,000 reports in the registry during the data collection period. According to the numbers on our infographic, the worst states for bedbugs are consistently New York and California.

What is the most bed bug infested city in America? ›

Chicago, New York and Philadelphia hold onto the top three spots, ranking first, second and third, respectively.

When temperatures drop well below 0°F, though, many individual insects die. The colder the temperature becomes, the fewer survive. The problem is, the ground is warmer where they hunker down, allowing them to survive even some of the deepest freezes.

Although New York is home to a massive amount of co*ckroaches, the city's northern location in the US is too cold for most co*ckroaches' taste. It is actually the cities of Austin, or possibly Houston, Texas that contain the largest co*ckroach populations.

State insects are designated by 48 individual states of the fifty United States. Some states have more than one designated insect, or have multiple categories (e.g., state insect and state butterfly, etc.). Iowa and Michigan are the two states without a designated state insect.

Two species of North American cicadas, Tibicen walkeri Metcalf and T. resh (Haldman), produce an alarm call with a mean sound pressure level of 105.9 dB(50cm). Brevisana brevis is likely the loudest insect species on record.

Most Common Pests in the U.S.

Our research shows that spiders are the most common pest in the country, with problematic presences noted in 12 states. Carpenter ants are a close second, seen in nine states. Termites are common in seven states, as are co*ckroaches.

Wash the bitten area with hot, soapy water.

As soon as you discover chigger bites, thoroughly wash the affected area with hot, soapy water. Taking a hot shower will kill any remaining larvae that may still be present on the skin.

In addition to topical bug repellents such as DEET, one of the most effective ways to prevent chigger bites is insect repellent pants for men (and for women) and insect repellent socks pre-treated with permethrin.

The larvae attach to the skin of their host, preferably soft skin, and inject their saliva into it. The digestive enzymes in the saliva liquefy the host's skin cells, which causes the typical chigger rash and intense itching that starts three to six hours after the chiggers have attached to the skin.

What kills maggots instantly? ›

Boiling water. It's free, it's quick, it's effective, and it kills maggots in an instant. No bug sprays or other insecticides required.

Generally speaking, flies represent something that is annoying or bothersome. They might represent a problem that you are trying to ignore or something that is causing you stress. Alternatively, flies might symbolize something that is rotting or decaying. This could be a situation in which you feel trapped or stagnant.

Wound myiasis: occurs as a result of egg deposition on decaying flesh or pus-discharging wounds. If the maggots invade rather than staying on superficial layers of exposed tissue, subcutaneous nodules can result.

Cinnamon – use cinnamon as an air freshner, as flies hate the smell! Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils – Not only will spraying these oils around the house create a beautiful aroma, but they will also deter those pesky flies too.

Flies and mosquitoes, on the other hand, are attracted to blue tones and repelled by warm tones like yellow and orange. They prefer dark colors because they use their heat receptors to locate warm bodies to feed on.

A housefly will likely die on its own from stress.

These flies aren't meant to be in air conditioned environments, which can also contribute to them dying.

Black flies are active spring through summer and bites are most common during spring. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants and a hat to avoid black fly bites. Repellents are not always effective but may provide some help.

To the OP--if you're planning to hang out in the woodsy part of Mackinac Island or to head out of Mackinaw City to the woods you'll find black flies in the prime season (April and much of May are almost always too early for them unless it has been hot).

Black fly season occurs from mid-March to mid-July in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, north through New York and New England, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and into Southern Canada.

A healthy blackfly population is a sign of good water quality. Maine had few blackflies in the 1960s when its rivers were heavily polluted. Maine blackflies do not carry diseases.

What kills black flies fast? ›

Amdro Quick Kill Outdoor Insect Killer Ready to Spray and Amdro Quick Kill Outdoor Insect Killer Concentrate kill black flies by contact. Then they keep protecting against new black flies for up to three months. Treat lawns, trees, shrubs and flower gardens to reach adult black flies in their hiding places.

Dish Soap and Apple Cider Vinegar

Combine equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water in a bowl. Add a few drops of dish soap to the mixture and stir well. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spritz it on Black House Flies whenever you see them.

The only available effective treatment is a microbial pesticide containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis or Bti, which must be metered into the water in weekly treatments during periods of peak black fly activity. These products are also effective against mosquitoes.

Yes, celebrities have houses on Mackinac Island. A few are actor Vince Vaughn, Director Ron Howard, and Michigan's own Bob Seger.

Scientifically, they're known as hover flies (Family Syrphidae). I call them flies that fly endlessly. There are a lot of different kinds of these flies, and they're pretty common. You can usually find the adult flies hovering around near flowers because they feed on the flower nectar.

They require polarized light to guide them visually. “As the day turns to dusk, flies take refuge under leaves and branches, on twigs and tree trunks, on the stems of tall grass and other plants,” Dr. Grimaldi said. “They typically will not overnight on the ground.

They suck blood as a necessary part of their reproduction process. The female black fly has to suck blood from an animal and human prey to complete the reproduction cycle. Typically, black flies bite domestic animals and mammals, including humans. Buffalo gnat bites can cause itchiness and pain for many days.

Vinegar and dish soap fly trap

Use a shallow dish bowl and fill it with an inch of apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of sugar. Next, add some fruit-scented dish soap. You can leave the dish uncovered or tightly covered with plastic wrap. Make sure to poke a few holes in it to attract the flies.

Light colors such as orange, yellow and light blue are less attractive to black flies than dark green, brown and red. Shoulder-length head nets are sometimes useful. These can also be impregnated with repellents.

The flies are attracted to the carbon dioxide exhaled by people and animals, and also to perspiration, fragrances and dark, moving objects. They are most active just after sunrise and before sunset on calm days. Avoiding infested areas at these times is the best means of preventing bites.