Author Topic: Canada: Bug seasons  (Read 4184 times)

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Offline BikeFreak

Canada: Bug seasons
« on: April 04, 2017, 03:25:33 am »
As for preparing a bike trip across Canada and dealing with bugs. So far I identified the following bugs incl their respective seasons:
 
1. Mosquitos: Spring+early summer until end june
2. Black flies: Spring+early summer  until end june
3. Horse flies: Summer, start end june
4. Deer flies: Summer, start end june
5. Sand flies/No see ums: I have no idea

In terms of annoyance for cyclists, what would be the least annoying months for cyclists to cross Canada, especially through the boreal forests in the East. For me it seems there are two seasons: A season with black flies and mosquitos and a season with horse/deer flies (the ones circling your head while biking - even at high speed).

Lucas

Offline etsisk

Re: Canada: Bug seasons
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2017, 12:21:17 pm »
Dunno, but if I ever ride across Canada, I might have to fix up a "holster" on the bike for one of those paddle shaped electric bug zapper things! Then I'd ride sometime after the end of June. Horse flies are easier to hit! ☺

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Offline jamawani

Re: Canada: Bug seasons
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2017, 02:58:31 pm »
There are no bugs in Canada - only predators.

Offline walks.in2.trees

Re: Canada: Bug seasons
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2017, 11:27:58 am »
LOL, I live in upstate NY, and pretty much deal with all of those same bugs. Usually horse and deer flies aren't an issue for me on the bike unless I stop or slow down, and then that's only if I happen to stop or slow down in their territory. It may be that they get more aggressive the further north you go because of the shorter season, and bigger due to the size of their usual prey... Moose, Deer, Coyotes, and Bears being big animals that can't reach them where they land, meaning they get to feed more and for longer

Black flies to me are the most annoying by far, because they get into every open crevice they can find, but again usually that's only an issue at slower speeds, at faster speeds the issue is getting them in an eye as you fly through a cloud of them. Glasses that fit tight to your face help with that, though even then air currents still can push one up inside the glasses. Make sure you carry a small magnifying mirror to and you in removing them from your eye....A smartphone camera doesn't really cut it you can also get a Bug-net for your head from Dicks, REI, EMS, Gander Mt., etc, I've never tried one myself because I know how they restrict the airflow in a tent, and when I'm really cranking out a climb, the last thing I want is restricted air flow... But they aren't expensive, weigh very little, and you can take it off any time you want, so I see no harm in giving it a shot.  I'd probably wear it right over my helmet.

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