[Timbertrail]

5 March 2020 at 12:43:56 #825414

This is a very random question, but might prove useful to know. Here in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State we have “black flies” in the Spring and early Summer. They hatch in swiftly running water. Given similar climate and lots of running water in Switzerland, do the mountains have similar biting insects we should be aware of and bring bug repellent for?

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[Removed user]

5 March 2020 at 13:10:56 #931153

Hi Timbertrail,

there aren’t any insects like that because of the lakes or rivers, although near farms and cows you’ll meet flies, for sure 🙂

I never had problems with mosquitoes in Switzerland.

Also read these: http://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/preparation and http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/are-insects-a-problem-around-the-lakes-in-summer.

Ildiko

[Slowpoke]

5 March 2020 at 20:47:11 #931154

Hi Timbertrrail –

I forget when you are traveling, but I have been in the countryside, around the lakes, and not so much in the Alps in April, May (a lot) , June, not July. A little bit of March some years ago.

The black flies which have bitten me extensively and intensively in western Massachusetts in May do not seem to exist in Switzerland. Never had any trouble. Regular flies, especially in the countryside…definitely. Since the Swiss tend not poison the environment with toxic sprays, the fly population can be quite dense in places….cows, farms, cows, cheese, and more cows, do attract flies.

Slowpoke

[Timbertrail]

6 March 2020 at 2:07:30 #931155

Thanks Slopoke. Late May and early June travel dates. Western Mass black flies are same as we get here! Pesky little buggers and their bites give a lasting itch. Those dates are when ours are usually at their worst, too. I’ll be sure to be packing some Deep Woods Off!! (just in case).