ICW and Big Ugly Horse Flies

[Cats Eye]

We have now spent over a month cruising up the ICW. I have seen my first alligator!! Dolphins are getting boring (not really!!) because we see then sooo often. I have seen beautiful butterflies and tons of great birds. Out of all the the wild life the one thing I can not stand are these big huge green head flies that bite. My husband has become the best fly killer ever!! I am assuming I am not the only person that has had this problem.

I did find a solution to my problem that I will share with all of you!!

A bag of water.

I used to work in a bar in the caribbean that had a fly problem and after hanging up zip lock bags around the corners of the bar the flies stopped. I figured it could not hurt to try. So up the bag went and the flies stopped! It was like magic!! I was soooo happy. The day before was an unhappy getting bit by fly day. They where fling into the cockpit and landing on the bottom of the bimini. I have never seen soo many flies!! BUT now the problem is solved!! I hope this helps someone else!!!

[Pblais]

I think you may find a few folks that will try it. The green headed flies are the nasty part of this world once it gets warm. That would hold all the way to NJ.

[Vasco]

How does it work? ok all you science geniuses, if it works there must be an explanation.

[Pblais]

if it works there must be an explanation.

It be de magic!

[Cats Eye]

Someone told me it has to do with the reflection and all the eyes they have.. BUT I really have no idea!! All I know is it worked!! I have to stock up on gallon size zip lock bags! I was soo desprate to get rid of them.. They where really making us unhappy!!

[aquarian]

I have seen these fly deterents often hanging in windows and doorways in Mexico. Those that use them swear by it. I have not had an occasion to need them - yet.

[GordMay]

I know this works, because all of the programmers at Microsoft have plastic bags of water hanging over their cubicals, and "Vista" is bug-free.

ItHowever, i sounds, to me, as though you may not have been attacked by a shark, this week. Do you have a new belt buckle?


See: HowStuffWorks "Debunking the Water Bag Myth"

And: snopes.com: Water-Filled Baggies Repel Flies

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by GordMay

I know this works, because all of the programmers at Microsoft have plastic bags of water hanging over their cubicals, and "Vista" is bug-free.

ItHowever, i sounds, to me, as though you may not have been attacked by a shark, this week. Do you have a new belt buckle?


See: HowStuffWorks "Debunking the Water Bag Myth"

And: snopes.com: Water-Filled Baggies Repel Flies

ROFLMAO--ya gotta luv that Vista dig.

[Alecadi]

does that work also with mosquitoes?

[Ti' Punch]

Now that you have the flies taken care of, you need to start working on a remedy for the no-see-um's. If you are not being plagued by them yet, you will be soon. Every evening around 7 PM they chase me indoors here in Virginia.

[Cats Eye]

Originally Posted by GordMay

I know this works, because all of the programmers at Microsoft have plastic bags of water hanging over their cubicals, and "Vista" is bug-free.

ItHowever, i sounds, to me, as though you may not have been attacked by a shark, this week. Do you have a new belt buckle?


See: HowStuffWorks "Debunking the Water Bag Myth"

And: snopes.com: Water-Filled Baggies Repel Flies

I take the bag down we get flies...I put the bag back up we do not get flies..Even if it is all in my head - having me happy and not bitten by the ugly lil flies keeps everyone on board Cat's Eye happy. My husband would hang bags of water all over the boat if it ment I would smile all day!

So for now the bag of water stays!!

[Cats Eye]

Originally Posted by Ti' Punch

Now that you have the flies taken care of, you need to start working on a remedy for the no-see-um's. If you are not being plagued by them yet, you will be soon. Every evening around 7 PM they chase me indoors here in Virginia.

When I was living in the caribbean the locals would burn the dried coconut shavings. This got rid of ALL the bugs around but it also smelled. The smell would stick to your clothes bad. On the good side it did make it enjoyable to sit at a local beach bar and not get a bit or have the bugs run you off and I did not have to use bug spray!

[David M]

My guess is that the bag looks like some sort of predator to the fly. I have no other idea. The article says it is a placebo effect but a number of people here swear it works...and I tend to believe them over the article.

[redcobra]

Originally Posted by Cats Eye

We have now spent over a month cruising up the ICW. I have seen my first alligator!! Dolphins are getting boring (not really!!) because we see then sooo often. I have seen beautiful butterflies and tons of great birds. Out of all the the wild life the one thing I can not stand are these big huge green head flies that bite. My husband has become the best fly killer ever!! I am assuming I am not the only person that has had this problem.

I did find a solution to my problem that I will share with all of you!!

A bag of water.

I used to work in a bar in the caribbean that had a fly problem and after hanging up zip lock bags around the corners of the bar the flies stopped. I figured it could not hurt to try. So up the bag went and the flies stopped! It was like magic!! I was soooo happy. The day before was an unhappy getting bit by fly day. They where fling into the cockpit and landing on the bottom of the bimini. I have never seen soo many flies!! BUT now the problem is solved!! I hope this helps someone else!!!

Avon Skin-So-Soft.

[smurphny]

Will try the water bag method next time I'm in a green fly area. As Ti Punch noted, the damned no-see-ums/punkies/midges (and as we call them colloquially here in the Adirondacks-ALL JAWS) are the worst lil buggers. Green heads are big, stupid, and slow so you can swat 'em pretty easily but there is no defense against the little ones that I know of other than swabbing on 40% DEET(I have 100% that will melt your upholstery) or going below behind no-see-um screening (which I have on all ports and hatches).