Greenheads - Spawns of Satan
Boaters and beach-goers north of Cape Cod cherish their summer months. June through August are our prime weather windows to enjoy those hot, sunny summer days, so we must take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy our time outside, regardless of our recreational activities. As we roll into July, locals who spend their time along the Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine coasts are bracing themselves for the inevitable greenhead invasion! These spawns of satan terrorize our region's salt marches, nearby beaches, and waterways during peak activity season, driving people to the brink of insanity. Greenheads are such an infamous nuisance in our local community that their likeness has inspired bumper stickers, t-shirts, and even local IPAs! This blog will discuss precautions to avoid being eaten alive by these voracious vampires!
Greenheads have inspiration all over local business. One of my favorite beers happens to be Newburyport Brewing Co’s Green Head IPA
Greenheads are members of the horsefly fly family and grow relatively large, ranging from a quarter-inch up to an inch and a half (OUCH!) in length. Their large size makes them immune to typical insect repellants like DEET (more on this later). During the June full moon, females emerge to lay their eggs in the marches. Each greenhead can lay up to 200 eggs with each batch to sustain the next generation, but this is also when the month-long tourist torture season begins. Before laying eggs, greenheads primarily feed on nectar; however, this transition period sends female greenheads into a frenzy hunting for their newly preferred source of nutrition: BLOOD! These female greenheads quickly morph into Kamikaee torpedos, finding animals to quench their thirst and provide the nutrients needed to continue to lay batches of eggs. Every meal (one "bite") can yield another batch of 200 eggs!
The pesky colonies of greenheads are now in "seek and destroy" mode. They become efficient hunters swooping onto their distracted host and leaving them with a painful burning sensation before the host knows what hit them. We call them "bites," but greenheads do not bite. Instead, a pair of scissor-like cutters from the top of their heads plunge into their victim's skin and slice through tiny capillaries, creating a pool of blood. What I recently learned, it is not the cutting that you feel but the injection of an anticoagulant that leaves you with the burning sensation. Ever notice when a greenhead is sitting at your ankles, but you don't feel the bite? Most likely, the bastard did the damage by cutting but hadn't injected its anticoagulant.
This close up shows a Greenhead’s “scissors” used to take a chunk out or you
So how do you go about your beautiful summer activities without being annoyed by these menacing bugs? Preventative maintenance is the key here. Here are some tips to help fend off greenheads.
Avon Skin So Soft is the market's most popular "repellant" for greenheads. Designed as a beauty product, Skin So Soft deters greenheads from biting you. The determined flies will still land on you occasionally, but rarely will they bite if you are adequately covered in Skin So Soft. Local bait shops such as Surf Land on Plum Island carry Skin So Soft throughout the summer. Please support our local shops when you can! Another benefit of Skin So Soft is your skin will be extra smooth and shiny!
Another trick that seems to work is a 50/50 mixture of Cool Mint Listerine Mouth Wash and water. Someone told me this years ago, and it works reasonably well. I don't like how sticky it can be, but it works great as a backup to Skin So Soft.
Avoid dark colors - I took this step to a whole other level. When Pair Customs was building my boat, I wanted a white hull with black powder coating on my T-top; however, I thought of fishing in mid-July in the marshes and the invasion of greenheads and quickly went back to regular stainless piping and a light green hull. My prior boat was a Parker 23 SE with a navy blue canvas T-top, and I remember the days looking up under the T-top and seeing a biblical plague of greenheads buzzing around my head! It was like a scene from a horror movie! Avoiding dark colors applies to any clothing as well. Light colors, like pastels, are the way to go when fishing, boating or going for a walk.
Long Sleeves and Long Pants - Every day on the water, I wear some form of a light-colored, long-sleeve SPF moisture-wicking sun shirt. It protects my skin from the sun, keeps me cool and dry, and protects my arms from those nasty greenheads. For the last few years, I have also been wearing long fishing pants made of similar material. They are lightweight, cooling, and protect my legs and ankles from bugs.
Stay dry - I have noticed that when I'm wet, greenheads try to attack that part of my body. Not sure if it is the salt that attracts them or what, but if you are a swimmer, dry off immediately when exiting the water.
I have also noticed that greenheads are tame in the early morning. After 9:00 AM, they seem to wake up looking for their breakfast. Dusk is another time of day when greenhead activity is relatively low. But if you are a fisherman, you should be fishing around these times during the summer anyway!
Light breezes can work wonders to keep these voracious biters at bay, mainly if you are on the beach.
Try to kill as many as you can if they are around you!
Taking extra preventative measures and planning your trips can help mitigate the chances of being attacked while trying to enjoy your beach/ocean activities. If you have any other suggestions and are a member, come to the forum and discuss what works for you!