Bugs in Feb.

[nu2hike]

Are bugs ie Mosquitos & ticks a problem in Feb. in the ONF?

[bigcranky]

We did ONF in early March, and while there were a few bugs, it wasn't bad. The locals had all kinds of stories about bugs later in the spring

Edit: I'd still want a tent and not a tarp, or some sort of bug protection at night.

[perrymk]

This past weekend I was just north of the ONF, Etoniah State Forest to Buckman Lock. I swatted a few mosquitoes and scraped off one thing that I'm pretty sure was a tick, but had so much debris from splashing through muck its hard to say.

[martinb]

They are greatly reduced but still present.

[lilricky]

Also, if ground temps are above 60 degrees, chiggers will be active.

[nu2hike]

Thanks! I usually treat my clothes with permethrin. Just wanted to make sure it was necessary!

[Damn Yankee]

Any time the temps. are above 50* there will be a problem with ticks. Not so much with mosquitoes

[MuddyWaters]

Depends on the weather. I grew up in Fla, was home from college one Christmas break in January and took the dog out for a walk in the woods.
My parents house had white carpet in much of the house. Found 42 ticks on the dog, and on the carpet . Small,flat, didnt attach.

[Wise Old Owl]

Mosquitoes transmit Encephalitis, several boy scouts have died from this local to me in PA .Lyme disease is from small Deer ticks. Deer Ticks need two blood meals to get from a egg to an adult Deer Tick, from a mouse or two. (yes that can be shelter mice).. yes it happens... now what are you going to do? (wear Deep Woods Off is the answer....) Now what is with the orange glow on this page?

[lilricky]

Orange glow is for the orange blazes that are used on the Florida Trail, the forum that you're on. The PCT forum has a blue glow, etc..

[Weather-man]

Here in Tampa I pull ticks off the dogs just about everyday and almost always swat a few mosquitos at dusk, even in Jan and Feb. On the colder days their presence is much less and can be absent.
That's the uniqueness of FL....it can be in the 30's one day and then back in the 70's the next. On the warmer days in the winter the bugs will be out though not in force. Once the rainy season hits and the weather warms up they'll carry you away.