Cup O’ Joe: Black flies are nuisance

Black flies. They are a fairly common, and yet annoying pest here in northern Maine that we all struggle to fend off.
So far this summer, the black flies seem to be extra thick and aggressive. And no matter how much bug spray is applied, the tiny bloodsuckers always seem to find a way through my defenses on their way to a tasty treat.
    The extremely wet weather we have had so far hasn’t helped matters. While researching the topic over the weekend, I learned that black flies thrive in wetter climates in North America. I’d say with all the rain we’ve had in recent weeks that we certainly qualify for this description.
If the wet weather means the black flies are only going to get worse, it’s going to be a long summer. Already, I’ve seen numerous deer and moose along the roads of Interstate 95 as the flies seem to be driving these animals from the woods.
And then there are the bug bites. My children, unfortunately, are cursed with the same allergic reaction to fly bites that I have. Once bitten, we tend to swell up with a white welt that gets larger and larger the more you scratch it.
Benadryl, both liquid and creams, are a staple in our medicine cabinet these days. So far, I have yet to find a decent repellent that keeps the critters away on a consistent basis.
My mother has suggested a few homeopathic cures. She claims that peppermint oil can keep these, and other, bugs from biting, but I have yet to try it. I’m not sure I want to walk around smelling like a peppermint stick. Surprisingly, many of the commercial insect repellents contain DEET, which can be hazardous to your health. I was surprised to read online that while DEET repels mosquitoes, it tends to attract black flies.
While scouring the Internet for alternative methods to combat the tiny insects, I stumbled across “The Black Fly Song,” by Wade Hemsworth, recorded back in 1949. It’s a catchy little tune, but not the one I remember from my youth. I seem to recall a song that played on WHOU as a youngster that had a verse something like, “Black Flies, in your hair and in your eyes.” Why I recall this song, and many other pieces of useless information from my childhood is a complete mystery. I can remember television shows I used to watch 30-plus years ago, but can’t seem to remember more important things, like birthdays and anniversaries.
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer at The Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at 532-2281 or by e-mail at pioneertimes@nepublish.com