Starting in late April, anyone outdoors in the Monadnock Region will soon become acquainted with our winged carnivores. Black flies appear first and are usually pretty well gone by the middle of June. Mosquitoes don't usually appear until late May and can continue into early July. Black flies disappear at night, but mosquitoes work 24/7. During the day, the number of mosquitoes you encounter will vary with the location. Generally locations near standing water will see the heaviest concentration with the much lower numbers as you get to higher elevations.
By the middle of July most black flies and mosquitoes are gone from the Fitzwilliam area, particularly if you are hiking at the higher elevations. You may be attacked by deer flies that tend to appear and circle your head usually when you hike through open areas. Their bites are fierce, but they can be discouraged by wearing a broad brimmed hat.
However, if you know a few simple facts, you can survive these predators with only minor discomfort. Remember the following:
1. Black flies cannot bite through clothing. Thus if you wear long pants, a long sleeve shirt and gloves you need only worry about your head.
2. Black flies cannot keep up with you if you are moving at a brisk walk. Thus once you start hiking, you should be free of them. However, once you stop, they will find you within a few minutes.
3. Insect repellent helps and generally keeps black flies from landing on treated skin although they may hang around looking for unprotected areas. Be sure to treat your wrists and ankles.
4. Different people react differently to black fly bites. A bite usually swells up and itches for about a half an hour. The swelling will then go down but the bite may stay tender and itch for up to a week. Cortisone cream may help alleviate the itching. If you get bitten several times, you may develop some immunity to the bites.
5. The best protection against black flies is a head net which is best worn with a broad brimmed hat. This works fine when you stop for a rest and can be removed when you are actually hiking.
1. Mosquitoes can bite through clothing, but only if the clothing is touching your skin. Thus it is still worth wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt.
2. Mosquitoes can follow you even when you are walking at a fast walk and will move in for the kill as soon as you stop.
3. Insect repellent helps and keeps mosquitoes from landing on treated skin. But remember they can still bite through the back of your shirt!
4. Mosquito bites produce a serious itch for a half hour or so and then generally go away.
5. You can protect yourself pretty well from mosquitoes with a head net and loose clothing. You can also purchase of netting shirt that completely covers your head and upper body. However, if the netting touches your skin at any point, they will find that spot.