March flies. When do they disappear?

[kanangra]

I'm heading in to Mt Jagungal on the 20th of March. Please tell me the march flies will be long gone by then? Last time I was down the Northern Snowies I was driven to distraction by them. But then that was December.

K

[icefest]

Depends on the weather. One or two decent frosts will kill a great many of them.

[north-north-west]

For the umpteenth time. They aren't 'March' flies. They are either 'Horse Flies' (the bigger, slower, generally more colourful ones) or 'Marsh Flies' (smaller, leaner, faster, darker, infinitely more painful) whose name was corrupted into the popular 'March' Flies. Or, as I prefer to name them, 'evil blood-sucking spawn of Satan'.
They like it warm. That's why you don't see them in winter. Or at night. Or on cool, damp summer days. It's why they rev up more as the day goes on, after a sluggish start in the morning. That's why they will be a pain in whatever \vulnerable parts of your body they can reach until - as icefest says - it gets cold enough to kill 'em off for one more year.

In other words, don't forget the Aeroguard.

[Moondog55]

I also think we did this to death in another thread ROLF
Aerogard works but I prefer a sledge hammer

[north-north-west]

Aerogard works but I prefer a sledge hammer

I like the way you think. Would a pile-driver be overkill?

[Moondog55]

Aerogard works but I prefer a sledge hammer

I like the way you think. Would a pile-driver be overkill?

Actually sometimes I would happily resort to therm-nuclear weapons they hurt so much, I actually bought a fly net last year, citronella seems to make them hungrier

[Snowzone]

I had one actually bite me through my gaiter the other day. It doesn't help my gaiters are blue which seems to be their most favourite colour to land on.

Aerogard works but I prefer a sledge hammer

I like the way you think. Would a pile-driver be overkill?

Actually sometimes I would happily resort to therm-nuclear weapons they hurt so much, I actually bought a fly net last year, citronella seems to make them hungrier

They'd probably still come back to life even after being nuked.

[RonK]

April, I believe.

[zac150]

Maybe a myth but I have heard they leave a scent when killed which attracts more flies.

I have been in groups where some people became very irritated with them and killed at will wilst we were less affected. Kind of supports the above theory.

Either way I do like to feed them to the trout or my favourite pet spider.

[Eljimberino]

Dark colours attract more. I was up on The Jugga last week. There weren't many.


Ride On

[kanangra]

What was it like up there?

K

[Eljimberino]

Wouldn't try to climb from the north side.


Ride On