With the arrival of warmer weather, spending more time outdoors is what we all would like to do. There are, however, some insects that are also part of the spring environment and that target us. One that shows up every May is the black fly. A black fly or blackfly (regional names include buffalo gnat, turkey gnat, black gnat or white socks) is any member of the family Simuliidae of the Culicomorpha infraorder. Here is a list of some things that you can do to help protect yourself.

First, avoid black fly-infested areas during daytime periods of peak adult activity. That, of course, defeats the purpose of enjoying our time outdoors. You can schedule outdoor activities during mid-day hours, when black flies (gnats) are usually not as active. Stay indoors on warm, cloudy, humid summer days and before summer thunderstorms, when gnats are most aggressive.

You can make a difference by your clothing choices, too. Wear light-colored clothing because black flies are attracted to dark colors. Wear hats, pants and long-sleeved shirts for maximum skin protection, because black flies don’t bite through clothing. They do have the ability to somehow find flesh and more than once have bitten my ears through the netting of my turkey mask. Tuck in shirts and pants to prevent adult black flies from crawling under clothing. Wear glasses or goggles to help prevent adult black flies from entering your eyes. Additionally, an insect head net can be worn for protection in areas of high black fly density. Head nets are common and inexpensive. My last trip to the Boundary waters led me to discover a great product Steve Piragis had in his store. It is a light jacket with a full zippered head net. It works great!

Remember that smoke from punk sticks, candles, campfires and tobacco products can repel black flies. Don’t wear perfumes, colognes, deodorants, hairsprays and other toiletries, which may attract black fly gnats. There are many popular repellents. Citronella is a standard and, growing up, that smell was familiar as many people burn citronella candles. DEET has its followers and is considered the most effective chemical but read the health and application instructions and warnings. The use of a clothing treatment like Sawyers has become popular and my experience is that it works quite well and lasts many washings. It also seems to work on the other two most common pests, ticks and mosquitoes. If you are bitten, try to avoid scratching, which can worsen allergic reactions to the bite.

Mosquitoes are commonly found with the black flies and the same protection steps will help reduce their biting as well. To this writer, nothing does a better job of repelling black flies and mosquitoes than the Thermacell line of products. Since learning of them a decade ago, they are part of my turkey hunting gear and really do make sitting in the spring woods possible f. They also do a great job when attempting outdoor dining. Thermacell makes a couple of combination light/repeller products that look good and do the job. The key ingredient is also natural, derived from chrysanthemums and not unpleasant or dangerous to humans.

The third pest is the most dangerous and that is ticks. The deer tick carries a number of potentially dangerous diseases and they can be life changing. In the United States, some ticks carry pathogens that can cause human disease, including:

Anaplasmosis is transmitted to humans by tick bites primarily from the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the northeastern and upper midwestern U.S. and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) along the Pacific coast.

Babesiosis is caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells. Most human cases of babesiosis in the U.S. are caused by Babesia microti. Babesia microti is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and is found primarily in the northeast and upper Midwest.

Borrelia mayonii infection has recently been described as a cause of illness in the upper midwestern United States. It has been found in blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Borrelia mayonii is a new species and is the only species besides B. burgdorferi known to cause Lyme disease in North America.

Borrelia miyamotoi infection has recently been described as a cause of illness in the U.S. It is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and has a range similar to that of Lyme disease.

Bourbon virus infection has been identified in a limited number of patients in the Midwest and southern United States. At this time, we do not know if the virus might be found in other areas of the United States.

Colorado tick fever is caused by a virus transmitted by the Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni). It occurs in the Rocky Mountain states at elevations of 4,000 to 10,500 feet.

Ehrlichiosis is transmitted to humans by the lone star tick (Ambylomma americanum), found primarily in the southcentral and eastern U.S.

Lyme disease is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the northeastern U.S. and upper midwestern U.S. and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) along the Pacific coast.

Powassan disease is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the groundhog tick (Ixodes cookei). Cases have been reported primarily from northeastern states and the Great Lakes region.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is transmitted by the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni), and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sangunineus) in the U.S. The brown dog tick and other tick species are associated with RMSF in Central and South America.

STARI (Southern tick-associated rash illness) is transmitted via bites from the lone star tick (Ambylomma americanum), found in the southeastern and eastern U.S.

Tickborne relapsing fever (TBRF) is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected soft ticks. TBRF has been reported in 15 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming and is associated with sleeping in rustic cabins and vacation homes.

Tularemia is transmitted to humans by the dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), the wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni), and the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). Tularemia occurs throughout the U.S.

Sorry to be the bearer of so much bad news! In reality, Lyme disease is the most common threat. Ticks are everywhere and you can expect any walk in the woods to result in an unwanted guest. Check your clothing immediately after returning from outdoors. Ticks are tiny bugs most likely found in shady, damp, brushy, wooded, or grassy areas (especially in tall grass), including your own backyard. Different kinds of ticks feed on the blood of mammals (including people, dogs, cats, deer and mice), birds, or reptiles (snakes and turtles, for example). Ticks do not fly or jump. They attach to animals or people that come into direct contact with them. Deer ticks and dog ticks are found throughout Massachusetts; Lone Star ticks are also found in some places in Massachusetts. Black-legged ticks, sometimes called deer ticks, are responsible for spreading Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, Borrelia miyamotoi, and Powassan virus. Both nymph (young) and adult black-legged ticks will bite humans. The highest risk of being bitten by this kind of tick occurs throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons. However, adults can also be out searching for a host any time winter temperatures are above freezing. Black-legged tick nymphs are the size of a poppy seed and adults are the size of a sesame seed. Dog ticks are responsible for spreading Rocky Mountain spotted fever and certain types of tularemia. In general, only the adult dog tick will bite humans. The highest risk of being bitten by a dog tick occurs during the spring and summer seasons. Adult dog ticks are about the size of a watermelon seed.

Perhaps the most important things you can do is check yourself for ticks once a day. Favorite places ticks like to go on your body include areas between the toes, back of the knees, groin, armpits, and neck, along the hairline, and behind the ears. Remember to check your children and pets, too. Remove any attached ticks as soon as possible. Ticks are tiny, so look for new “freckles.” If you find a tick attached to your skin, don’t panic. Use a pair of fine point tweezers to grip the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out with steady pressure. You should not apply kerosene, petroleum jelly, nail polish or a hot match tip to remove the tick. These measures are not effective and may result in injury. Circle the calendar date and note where on the body the tick was removed. You may want to save the tick for identification. Your physician may choose to treat you following a deer tick bite. Notify your health care provider if you have been bitten by a deer tick or if you develop a rash or other sign of illness following a tick bite. Talk to your doctor if you develop a rash where you were bitten or experience symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, or sore and aching muscles.

When going outside to an area likely to have ticks, you can stick to main pathways and the center of trails when hiking. Again, use bug repellents. Repellents that contain DEET can be used on your exposed skin. Permethrin is a product that can be used on your clothes. Always follow the product instructions and use repellents with no more than 30-35% DEET on adults and 10-15% DEET on children. Never use insect repellents on infants. Talk to your veterinarian about the best ways to protect your pets and livestock from ticks.

One of my favorite spring critters is the red eft. Their bright color stands out and they commonly are found on old woods roads. The eastern newt is a small salamander that has three life stages. In the terrestrial form, they are a red eft. They grow to be about 3 inches long and can live on land for three or four years until they change into adult eastern newts.

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, Counselor and Director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor for over 40 years and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.