Stop bothering us!
If there is one thing that can be frustrating at times with cabin and chalet rentals, it would be insect activity. I often get asked as part of the first 3-4 questions, “how are the bugs?” To tell the truth, the location, weather conditions, time of year, and environmental conditions all play an important role in the activity of insects and the type of insects.
If you’re looking for a private and secluded destination, deep in the jungle, away from noise and immediate neighbors, amid acres and acres of woods all around you, chances are you’ll be “bothered”. Black flies and mosquitoes love forests. It is your perfect breeding ground. So if deep woods cabin and chalet rentals are your thing, come fully prepared with enough bug spray to deal with the pesky little critters.
Considerable amounts of precipitation and pockets of still water, ponds, small ponds, rain barrels, birdbaths, unused swimming pools, also offer the perfect conditions for “larvae” to settle and await the new life form as it hatches. arise. they age into their next form, mosquitoes or black flies. In your questions to the owner of your country house, find out about places of calm water. Ask if they use BTI Briquettes to solve the problem. BTI is safe for families, children, animals and the environment by reducing larval levels in still water without any threat to the ecosystem of lakes and rivers.
Late May and most of June is the beginning of “bug season” in most of Ontario, ending in August. Early in the morning until just before the sun rises will bring them out, as well as at sunset, you will also see them come out. And sometimes throughout the day, depending on the temperature and humidity levels of the atmosphere, it will also influence how active you are in your immediate vicinity and how much you will be “bothered”. Wearing long-sleeved clothes and pants, hoodies, and jackets with bugs on them can go a long way in keeping you from being “bothered.” Giving the sun a chance to fully set can also help reduce nuisance insects. But also, light colored clothing will also come in handy. White, ivory and light colors are indeed a deterrent. Insects are attracted to dark colors as they are associated with deer, elk, bears, and other woodland creatures that are also dark in color.
Other types of errors that are also a factor in cabin rentals are hornets and wasps, and in some cases it can be fatal. If you know your child or family member/friend is allergic to wasp and wasp stings, you MUST have proper medical treatment while on holiday at all times. In forests, hornets, bees, and wasps have much larger nests and are usually much more numerous in size. If you see a nest, report it immediately. DO NOT try to dismantle or beat the nest, especially during the day. There are canned products that can be purchased at a local hardware store that contain the right poison to close the entrance to the next and kill the queen in the pen, not allowing members to escape or enter. However, these products come with explicit instructions on how to use them, and in most cases they recommend use during night hours.
Another small insect that is a big nuisance and also carries a sting is the carpenter ant. Although they are usually docile, they usually do not bite people, but sometimes they can. The real threat they pose is what they do with wood and rotten wood. They nest and burrow in wood, hence the name, and can hollow out trees, stumps, decks, and yes, even the framing of an aging farmhouse and chalet. Boric acid (basically soap) is what is used to kill them, completely harmless. It is used in the treatment of nests and surrounding colonies. The key is to find the nests and get rid of them first, before they enter the house. Asking about carpenter ants in your cabin rental inquiries is not unusual. They were here long before we came and put a house on top of them. Best practice is to sweep floors and wipe down counters after each meal in the cabin. The cleaner the environment, the less food will tempt the carpenter ants to come inside and get into their food.
Spiders…the creepy crawlers that can be more than just venomous when it comes to their bites are also something to look out for when you’re vacationing in a cottage, resort or camping. One of the most dangerous would be the female black widow. Usually found around woodpiles or on rotting stumps, they are black with a very distinctive red hourglass marking on the shiny part of the abdomen. Their existence is rare in Ontario, due to the climate, although they have been found in 2009 in Oakville, the Bruce Peninsula, and parts of southern Georgian Bay. Most commonly found in cottage country are “Daddy Long Legs” and “Dock Spiders”. Both types of spiders can get huge and inspire quite a reaction when seen. Both are not venomous, although they can be aggressive if provoked, so it’s best to leave them alone if you see them. Be aware of cobwebs inside the home and take the appropriate steps to treat them and prevent a future problem.
Ultimately, the best approach to keeping mistakes at bay is to come prepared. Always have the right amount of repellent, wear the right clothes, keep sandals and shoes on, and don’t try to provoke a conflict with a large insect. Chances are, they’re not alone in the world, and where there’s one bug, there’s probably more. Ask cottage owners questions about home upkeep. Infestations clearly occur if a property is not well maintained. Do not hesitate to do a little cleaning on your own if you consider it necessary. Be aware and be wise.
Stop bothering us! Weather, environmental conditions, calm water, and time of year all play a role in the insect population, but remember not to “bother” them so they will “bother” you!