Remember the tent caterpillar infestation last year at this time? What a mess. The rumor started that the DNR introduced large gray flies to the U.P. (sometimes known as "garbage" flies) to fight the caterpillars. The U.S. Forest Service has stated that the DNR did not release them here, instead they are native to the area.

But it is true that the flies have fought back against the caterpillars. The flies hatch their young on the cocoons (I won't say maggots this early in the morning) and they eat the pupa before it can emerge. Yuk.

So actually we have less moths, and in turn, less new caterpillars.

Our thanks to Donn de Yampert for another National Geographic quality photo. We'll let his gray fly battle Dan Urbanski's tent caterpillar.

We were in the UP last week and experienced the flys. At least that kind of fly did not bite. What are the red spots on the leaves? Some sort of fungus?

To add to the "Bug Wars", the spots look to be fairly fresh egg laying sites by a wasplike insect. They develop into either thickend areas or hair like projections from the leaf surface. The process is by way of a growth hormone secreted by the egg. Later the larvae has something to munch on before it emerges. Isn't it fantastic how God made all these creatures to help keep a balance?

The next rumor was the DNR will release snakes to eat the flies LOL!

We were up there during the week of June 23rd. and got to experience those flies first hand, too. Man...what a nightmare down at the RV park in Lake Linden. Literally SWARMS of them. We saw a report on the TV6 news that they were released by the DNR. Were the news folks reporting on rumor, too? Hmmm...?

the dnr or forest service are not going to admit they released these flies.they need to be working on getting the deer back in the swamps so we dont have so many deer accidents.not to speak of the deer eating our flowers and trees.

Let nature take it's course, People stop feeding the deer and changing their eating habits, they won't stay off the roads until people stop feeding them near roads & towns. They are eating things they never did before because people keep introducing them to new foods, things they shouldn't be eating. Whatever happened to the real deer hunters. The word "Hunt" is gone out of deer season, It is now "Bait & Wait Season".

i agree with disgusted gardener.its true about bait and wait.thats not real hunting.nature will take care of things.

Thanks to Donn for the great picture,but frankly, I saw enough of those things up close and personal a week or two ago - like a dozen on each shoe! Thank heavens for the bug shirt!

They or something do seem to have zapped the tent caterpillars, though - Brockway Mountain is green this year!

Real Hunters exist, everywhere. I am one. I have never baited or waited. As for feeding and baiting, both are complex issues that differ from area to area. Deer don't appear on roads because people feed them near roads or towns. They appear on roads because they are one of God's creatures and rightfully roam the earth according to their nature and instinct.

To the comment about getting the deer back in the swamps, I think the real solution is to get the city folk back into the city, away from the deer:)
Why is it that people who don't hunt and know very little about are always the first to speak out about it??

Does this mean that the mosquito is no longer the U.P. state bird?

Mike- actually..i think its the "chiquito"..a mutation of a chicken and a mosquito. well at least thats what my yooper glossary says.

You are right Marc, real hunters do exist, but don't assume because you are one that you are the only one who knows what it is all about. I am not city folk, never lived anywhere but in the good old U.P. Am a whole lot closer to the deer situation than you may think. They are Gods beautiful creatures, free to roam the earth like you & me & beautiful to watch, but like you & me, they go where the food is,& in the Keweenaw it's near the roads & they have changed their eating habits. Bait & Wait could be an endless argument & neither of us would change our opinions, but it does exist to agreat extent. The real hunters are great. I love Venison Sausage:)

All the critters are coming out of the woods cause of all the DEVELOPMENT. Like Marc said...keep the city folk in the city. Leave us Yoops in our paradise to co-exist w/the critters like we have for centuries!!!

Disgusted,
Your right, bait and wait is an endless argument, especially when there are disabled people who can benifit from this practice and have a right to hunt just like everyone else. I guess it comes down to personal choice and hopefully people will make the right one.
I love that venison sausage, too!! Good luck against the deer:)
ps. Meant no offense...

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