Being from the Sunny South, I agree that bugs do seem to live forever down here. However, during Ragbrai last year I thought bugs were a minor to non-existent problem. I don’t recall ever using any bug dope.

I also find bugs to be a minor or non existent problem. You may notice some flies, mosquitos, or ants. I’ve never really had a problem with em. I have also never had to use bug dope. If your allergic to bee stings, I would bring something for that, but I’m sure it’s a rare occurrence.

I carry a small spray can of deet in my wedgie bag whenever I ride. Not bad while you’re moving, but if you ever stop to fix a flat, you’ll wish you had one.

Because of the millions of gallons of pesticides used on all of the corn and soybeans and the evolutionary nature of insects and animals to adapt and overcome their environment, the mesquito is now the state’s bird in Iowa. Do they bite? Oh, yes! They also carry off small dogs and have been known to take down small fawns (new-born deer). Best defense is a flame thrower and at least a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol (so make sure you have your CCW so you can carry your pistol under your spandex).

it was a dry winter and has been a dry spring, at least in central Iowa so that should lessen bugs, esp the skeeters. 2-3 years ago a friend got bit by a spider (we think) started swelling almost right away, 2 of the RAGBRAI ambulances happened to be in town, they looked at it and wanted to know if she wanted to be transported to the overnight, we were only about 10 miles away, she said no. Boy, was thatugly by the time we got to town, went stright to the ER skipping camp. Now the other thing to watch out for is some of the plant life

getaclueblue: I live 40 miles south of Houston, close to the coast. I went outside tonight to get something from my workshop. After i got a few feet from the house, a gang of mosquitoes came up behind me and pushed me to the ground. A pack of them pinned me to the ground while thousands of them began taking my blood. I yelled for help and a neighbor came running over armed with a can of Deep Woods Off. They were dragging me to the back alley just before the neighbor got to me and saturated the area with Off which made them let me go. I crawled to the back door and quickly slammed the door behind me as I stumbled into the house. They kept knocking on the door and trying to break the glass but I wouldn’t let them in so they finally gave up and started looking for another victim at a different location.

Well, I’m almost in San Antonio and the bugs are not much better here although I have to admit your swarms probably are worse. Are there pictures of them in the Post Office?

iceman: Relatively speaking, you have no bugs in Iowa. Down here, they live for years.

What the Iceman said.

I’ll match the skeeters in the North Florida Swamps against any north of the Mason Dixon line or west of the Mississippi, as long as the Bayou Country is on our side!

What they do have in Ioway that I was not that familiar with is CHIGGERS!!!

Back in the day, a young lady in our charter liked to show off those long legs by wearing short shorts, “apres bike.” Two days after stretching out in the grass for a few hours, her legs were all tore up with what they told me were chigger bites. NASTY little beasts. I’ve stayed off the ground on RAGBRAI since witnessing that misery…

If we have several dry days before the start and during the skeeters will not be much of problem. Flies will be where food is or any stinky body from riding.

This will be going on during RAGBRAI. The Great Texas Mosquitoe Festival. We couldn’t beat um so we joined forces with um. ha

http://www.mosquitofestival.com/

the only annoying/nuisance bug I ran into was this one little cricket that decided being under my tent was the best place to be. I spend an hour beating on my tent floor to get that thing to stop chirping, I was close to insanity setting in (oh wait I was on RAGBRAI so I was just waiting to be committed).

I like Tabasco sauce, some prefer butter and garlic, and some traditionalists like ’em with just a squeeze of lemon.

Steve

iceman: Well, I’m almost in San Antonio and the bugs are not much better here although I have to admit your swarms probably are worse. Are there pictures of them in the Post Office?

The mosquitoes in this area run in gangs. They like to show off their hairy chests and tatoos.

I know the Skeeters are bad in Marshalltown… you know how I know? When my HS’s football team played there in 2011, they didn’t spray the damn dirt field they made us warm up on while the JV game finished. We got tore up there. Then they sprayed the entire football field. I mean I didn’t get bit at all in warm-ups. They probably sprayed the home sideline. We played on turf, so the bugs were never a huge problem at home. There, the bugs were not bad in the middle of the field. But they did not spray the visitor’s sideline! All the damn skeeters went to our sideline! That game sucked! Lol… But we got the win! Note to anyone sleeping on the HS football field… don’t sleep on the visitor’s sideline. Lol

It all depends on how much rain we get in the weeks before the ride. The more rain, the more skeeters although July is our driest time of year. Contrary to belief, 100% Deet will not hurt you. Wal-Mart sells it- “Repell 100.” Make sure it’s in with your camping gear. Ticks are not problem beyond June.