Acadia

Black Flies

Peak Black Fly season usually starts around mid-May and is generally over (except for a few that don’t get the word) by the end of June. Black Flies breed in running water, so areas with brooks and streams are likely to be areas where you will encounter them.

Black Flies like calm, sunny days. They are not active on rainy days and if it is breezy they are unable to fly. That is why you will find very few if any Black Flies on the rocks along the shore. Usually the sea breezes keep them away. The same is true on many mountain trails where the wind is brisk.

Expert Advice on How To Protect Yourself

Experts recommend the following tactics for minimizing exposure to Black Fly bites:

* wear light-colored clothing
* wear long-sleeved T-shirts (rather than buttons and cuffs)
* tuck your pants into your socks
* wear a hat

Stan’s Advice: While not a Black Fly expert I suggest you follow the above suggestions and bring along your favorite insect repellent. Don’t use it until you find you need to because in many cases you will not need it. If you venture into heavily wooded or shaded areas you will most likely need your repellent. I like OFF! Skintastic Spray because it smells good and it is non-greasy. I find I need to apply it more frequently when I am hiking and working up a sweat. It is easy to carry and is very effective for me. Ben’s is also quite effective and I have used that almost as much as the OFF Skintastic.