2016 -- summer of the mosquito revenge?

[drm]

I don't think it makes that much difference if it's a low or high snow year

The couple weeks after the snow melts they'll be mosquitoes

A hard core mosquito situation requires relatively warm water for them to breed in. It might take a hard freeze to kill them, but cold water is not good for intense breeding. That's why alpine areas where the snow doesn't usually melt till high summer have worse mosquitoes than the lowlands, where the snow melts while it is still chilly. I remember seeing a report about mosquitoes in town. The expert said that they won't get swarms of them till the breeding water gets near to 70*.

[retired jerry]

it seems like in alpine areas, there's water for only a short while after the snow melts so the Mosquitoes have to "make hay while the sun shines"

In lowland swampy areas, there's water for extended periods so the Mosquitoes aren't in such a hurry to mate

[-Q-]

Too early to tell. In really heavy snow years, the mosquitoes haven't come out until the end of summer when enough snow has melted.

I'm still not sure which is worse: the mosquitoes from a wet winter or the biting flies on a warm day. The mosquitoes respect the deet.

Gimme the biting black flies any day. They move slower, and make more noise... Easier to fight back against with lethal slaps

[retired jerry]

black flies are worse

huge swarms

it hurts

DEET doesn't do much

[-Q-]

It seems I can feel black flies and swat them before they bite. Their bite is slow and they dig deep. Takes them time. Even slow walking seems to grant me an escape.

Mozzies I loath. Damn vampires!!

[retired jerry]

yeah, you have to keep walking with biting flies

like, walk up to 7000 or 8000 feet and then they'll dissipate