Blackflies
I saw a few blackflies in Newfoundland but nothing like Labrador. Blackflies are usually found near moving water like rivers or streams. They are small, mildly annoying while swarming like gnats, and I hardly notice when they bite. However, DEET is much less effective than it is on mosquitos, blackflies are adept at finding chinks in your defensive armor and bites leave welts that last for days. In sum, they are insidious evil spawn of the devil.
Before I cooked dinner in Labrador one night, I slathered up with 30% DEET, taking care to use enough so that it goes on like suntan lotion – a slick covering. I did my face and neck and rolled back my long sleeved shirt so I could cover my fore arms. They will bite you on any exposed flesh, even if they have to crawl up your shirt to find it. I used Velcro to close up the bottom of my pant legs and sprayed my socks and the lower part of my pants legs. The next day, I had two bites on my neck, two on my lower legs, 3 on my forearms, 2 on various parts of my chest, and five on my belly bottom (they crawl into your shirt in the gaps between the shirt buttons). The bites itched for days.
My camping neighbor who had been coming to Pinware River for more than 10 years forgot to Velcro the bottom of his pants and got 30 to 40 bites on his lower legs. He said the ranger told him the snow did not melt until June and this was the worst year for blackflies in 30 years. The ranger was wearing a full netting hat at the time.
Perhaps I got off lucky but I hates them, every one.
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