Bugs and Insects
Some visitors to Maine have heard that bugs can be a problem - particularly black flies and mosquitoes. Here is some information which may set your mind at ease.
Black Flies
Black Flies are small, biting insects which are common in northern areas such as the northern part of the continental United States, Canada and Alaska where there is a lot of standing fresh water. Maine is a state which has lots of such areas; and years ago, black flies actually drove Native Americans from the woodlands to the shore in an effort to escape them. Even today, moose and deer are often driven from the woods during black fly season.
You will notice, however, that we said early inhabitants of Maine were driven to the shore! Mount Desert Island actually has several important archaeological sites which exist at locations used by natives who migrated to this area in the early summer because it was relatively free from black flies and other pesky insects.
Black flies breed in standing water and tend to be a problem only from about mid-May until mid-June each year. Black flies are rarely seen around Mount Desert Island after the first of July. The extent of the problem during their "season" varies with conditions over the winter - the amount of precipitation, temperatures, etc. Furthermore, the flies like woods and do not like open areas along the ocean or anyplace where there is a breeze.
If you are not camping, black flies should not cause you any problems, even if you visit during the early part of the season. Campers during that time should plan on covering exposed skin as much as possible, wearing light colored clothing, and using any of the standard insect repellents available on the market today. Avon Skin-So-Soft seems to work particularly well, and it does not contain any toxic chemicals.
MosquitoesMosquitoes tend to like the same conditions as black flies. Unlike black flies, however, mosquitoes seem to hang around a little longer in the season, so you may encounter them until early August.
While prevalent, mosquitoes are not nearly as pesky as black flies, and the same prevention tactics outlined above work well against them. One sure way to avoid both of these insects is to spend a lot of time along our beautiful rocky shore or on the water! Even the open, granite mountain summits are usually bug free!
The Bottom LineBlack flies and mosquitoes are a fact of life in some of our world's most beautiful and majestic areas such as Mount Desert Island. However, they should not be cause for undue concern, and certainly should not require a change in your vacation plans. In early summer, take standard precautions, especially if you are camping. Remember - the shore is the best place to be, and Mount Desert is an island!!
Acadia Information Center