SRS posted a recipe for home made bug dope and it got me ta thinkin'.

I haven't been up to (my) Camp Blackwater in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada since the slice and dice. Almost don't want to go now that the real fly season has started. Oh, we've had blackflies and skeeters for a while, but, with the temperature going to 35C tomorrow, there's a few more types on the go.

Bite-em-no-see-ums make it miserable to sleep because regular window screens won't keep them out.

And, the Moose Flies (Blow flies or Stouts) aren't bothered by the heat in the middle of the day. Them bastards can bite through a tee shirt (bigger than a horsefly). And, unless you crank the ATV up to 40kph, they fly past you and come back at you. Like little suicide bombers, they'll nail you in the face or arms... any skin that's exposed.

And the flies that were introduced about twenty years ago by some genius biologist to eat the Spruce Budworm consider fly dope a marinade (a bit bigger than a house fly, with circular markings on the wings.) They are slow. Half the time, you can swat them before they bite, but when you've got a trout on the line and can't let go, they'll take a goodly chunk of skin when they leave.

Then, ya got yer deer flies. Shiny green or blue. Same kinda bite as them "budworm" flies, but fast. They land, bite, chew, digest, read the newspaper, and shit before ya can swat 'em.

And then there's the damn sand flees. No sense puttin yer pants inside yer socks. These little ****'s will burrow through socks... and your hair and your beard if you lay down.

Last year, I even seen a fly I'd only ever seen in Labrador. An inch long, yellow, with a two-pronged tail, both of which prongs are stingers. This little pup can pack the wallop of a wasp. Don't know the name, except I call it, "SOB!!! Get the f*** away from me!!!"

There's a few more kinds, but you get the idea. I HATE flies.

I've got bug jackets and DEET up the arse... I've even got White Owl Invincibles (big, nasty stogies). But, I still get my ass bit bad every time I go up country in July.

Got a big trip planned next weekend. Anybody wanna come with?

What kinda nasty buggers ye got where ye live?