Bugs in the Woods

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Originally uploaded by cageyj

Over supper last week I spoke of bugs in the North Woods with two men of great experience. These men know the woods. They built and maintained hiking trails in the great Minnesota wilderness.

We spoke of wood ticks and deer fly. The ticks can be awful in the spring and June. The deer fly can make late June and July awful.

Deer fly tend to buzz about your head and bite your limbs inside the canoe. One of these gentlemen suggested: Place a band of fly strip around your head sticky side out. The flies which tend to bump into your head will hit the flypaper. The sticky goo will take them out of action.

The other gentleman said wood ticks climb upward as far they can get. Therefore you tend to find them stuck in armpits, your groin, your waist if you wear a tight belt or your hair. He recommended wearing Duct Tape. Place a piece of tape around your collar sticky side out. Make sure your clothes are tucked in well then you will conquer of the ticks.

Here we have two non-chemical ways to control North-wood bugs.

I've not tried them so you will have to take their word for it.

They offered no solution for black flies and knats!