In Vermont, a lot is always happening. Nonetheless, politics and school funding policies are not among the most talked-about subjects this summer, at least in certain places. The reason there are so many of them is because of deer flies.
In Monkton, where I reside, it is undoubtedly the case. Neighbors have complained that they are unable to garden, play on their swingsets, or walk their dogs because of the deer flies this year. Questions about why deer flies are so terrible and kind advice on how to prevent getting bitten have been flooding our neighborhood Facebook page. (A neighbor even put some adhesive tape for deer flies in my mailbox.)
After persuading Vermont Public that this was a noteworthy story, I contacted Judy Rosovsky, the state entomologist.
This is the worst year for deer flies anyone can recall, I informed her, based on my very scientific research that involved posting on social media and reading the comments.
Her response?
Humans, after all, have short memory.
crushing.
I do concur, though, that deer flies are having a terrible year.
Verification!
Naturally, a reported narrative cannot be concluded there, so I asked Rosovsky why there are so many deer flies. It should come as no surprise that temperature and moisture work together to affect insects.
She clarified that in this instance, deer flies prefer to reproduce close to bodies of water, damp forest floors, or saturated soils. They prefer wetness, so we had a wet spring. Then it got hot, and they like hot, so there they are.
They are also found across Vermont. In addition to finding sympathetic complainers in Addison County, the Northeast Kingdom, and the Upper Valley, my research techniques also revealed a claim for the flies being considerably worse in New York’s Adirondack Mountains. Rosovsky also conducted some research.
She informed me that I, too, employ the scientific method of searching online for comments to determine whether this was unique to Vermont or a regional phenomenon. Additionally, it appears that eastern Canada is also having a terrible year.
The deer flies that are attacking you this summer are not a sudden occurrence. When the weather warmed, they emerged in their adult form after overwintering as maggots.
Males have weak mouths and primarily consume pollen and nectar. (You shouldn’t be concerned about them.) However, females require the protein and lipids that only a decent gulp of blood can supply in order to grow their eggs. Additionally, their mouth parts are terrifying: two pairs of razor-sharp blades that resemble scissors.
Rosovsky informed me that they are actually slashers. With those sections of your mouth, they will cut you in an X form. The blood is subsequently lapped up by another mouth portion.
Furthermore, they are not particular; they will pursue your dog, a horse, a cow, or, as their name implies, a deer. Anything that has blood in its veins and is prancing around in the fields or woods is fair game.
The deer fly is not a cunning insect. They buzz noisily as they approach, are swift, and are larger than house flies but smaller than horseflies. Their fighter-jet design, striped wings, and large, multicolored compound eyes help you identify them. They can detect you from a distance by employing chemical sensors. Additionally, their keen vision aids with close-up attention. What you can do to prevent getting bitten is the next step. According to some real scientific studies, biting flies are drawn to the color blue.
Let’s see. You can remain inside. Rosovsky suggested that you perform the deer fly swat dance. You have the option to spin something around your head. You may take a stroll with a taller person who smells like chemicals and is dressed in blue.
But not the smell of bug repellent. It’s unclear if mosquito repellents, such as those containing DEET, have any effect on these biters.
It turns out that there are still many unanswered questions regarding deer flies. Although there are over 250 species in the US and 29 in Vermont alone, little is known about them.
Rosovsky shrugged, “Basically, it won’t get that much attention if it’s not a public health threat.” Furthermore, annoyance is not a threat to public health.
Just like clockwork, I sensed one on my arm. Rosovsky reached over and smashed it before I could respond.
Apologies! She cried out at once. I didn’t intend to strike your arm.
Additional information from Vermont Public: An active nest is documented via an Eagle cam at Lake Carmi for six years.
However, I would prefer to be smacked rather than bit. Those bites are powerful, and if the deer fly reaches them before they can get it, some individuals discover that they swell up and itch for days.
Furthermore, while being the official state insectophile, Rosovsky does not oppose a small amount of personal pest management.
I genuinely enjoy killing a couple and taking revenge after they bite me, even though I realize that’s not a value I should be advocating. The good news is that we can all have different opinions about insects.
And whatever your opinion on deer flies, take heart: their numbers peak around the end of July, so you don t have too much longer to suffer.
