Are Flies Attracted to Pipe Smoke?

bcharles123

Starting to Get Obsessed

Mar 18, 2014

236

1

• Aug 21, 2015

• #1

Before you laugh yourself silly, they do come around when I'm bbq-ing. Especially smoked meats. Not sure if it's the smoke or the slow cooking dead flesh.
We have neighbors with horses so there are a fair few flies around, but they seem to come to me when I'm outside with my pipe.

 

lostandfound

Part of the Furniture Now

Sep 30, 2011

924

44

• Aug 21, 2015

• #2

Dude don't even get me started. There's nothing more aggravating than when you're trying to relax with a pipe, and flies keep landing on you. :evil:

 

jkrug

Lifer

Jan 23, 2015

2,867

8

• Aug 21, 2015

• #3

Flies are pesky little buggers for sure and they drive me crazy when they land on you then you shoo them away and they land in a different spot and you shoo them away again and so on and so on and so on.....
I'm not sure if they are attracted to the smoke or if the just see you from the neighbours barn and yell out "Hey guys there's a human over there...let's all fly over there and bug the hell out of him!!!". :D

 

drwatson

Lifer

Aug 3, 2010

1,721

5

toledo

• Aug 21, 2015

• #4

I've attracted a few bar flies, does that count?

 

jkrug

Lifer

Jan 23, 2015

2,867

8

• Aug 21, 2015

• #5

I've attracted a few bar flies, does that count?

Click to expand...

Only if they were attracted to you pipe smoke. :D

 

clickklick

Lifer

May 5, 2014

1,700

212

• Aug 21, 2015

• #6

I have an orange stain that had a be land on my pipe mid smoke. Crazy as hell. Big bumble bee. I blew smoke through the pipe in panic and he flew away, still remember it.

 

L

lestrout

Lifer

Jan 28, 2010

1,762

300

Chester County, PA

• Aug 21, 2015

• #7

Mosquitos are attracted to CO2, which mammals like us exhale. Tobacco combusting generates the same. Dunno about flies.
hp

les

 

hawke

Lifer

Feb 1, 2014

1,346

4

Augusta, Ga

• Aug 21, 2015

• #8

I thought all critters/animals ran from smoke?

 

warren

Lifer

Sep 13, 2013

11,715

16,280

Foothills of the Chugach Range, AK

• Aug 21, 2015

• #9

Leads me to ask exactly what is in that blend you are smoking. Or, have you read the obits in the paper today? Are you listed? If so, there's your answer.

 

fmgee

Part of the Furniture Now

Sep 26, 2014

922

4

• Aug 21, 2015

• #10

This thread reminds me of the flies in Australia. There was nothing funnier than watching someone visiting from overseas waving their hands in the air and going crazy when a single fly landed somewhere on them. They are really in for a work out if they keep that up and don't settle down and accept them. When you live there you get very good at directing a shot of breath to keep them out of your eyes and mouth, otherwise you just leave them alone unless you are about to enter a house when you try and shake them off.

 

bcharles123

Starting to Get Obsessed

Mar 18, 2014

236

1

• Aug 21, 2015

• #11

Ha! Well tonight it was Seattle pipe club Plum Pudding. I guess I see your point!

 

pipestud

Lifer

Dec 6, 2012

2,010

1,750

Robinson, TX.

• Aug 21, 2015

• #12

Dude don't even get me started. There's nothing more aggravating than when you're trying to relax with a pipe, and flies keep landing on you.

Click to expand...

Jerod, you might try bathing every now and then. :wink:
On a serious note, I always assumed pipe smoke would keep flies away rather than attract them. I guess it just depends on the blend one is smoking.

 

mso489

Lifer

Feb 21, 2013

41,210

60,454

• Aug 22, 2015

• #13

I can see some of the very sweet flavored blends carrying on the wind like a large cherry pie or vanilla custard. Latakia might stop them in flight, and a good dose of Perique I imagine dropping flies mid-flight. I suspect many species of flies have developed chemo-detectors that zero in on anything that resembles food in content, which probably includes some pipe blends. Unpleasant as they are sometimes, insects are elaborately designed/evolved to do all kinds of complicated sensory and food-getting activities. Their success is manifest in their vast numbers.

 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings

Jun 15, 2013

19,747

45,288

Southern Oregon

jrs457.wixsite.com

• Aug 22, 2015

• #14

Depends on what you smoke.
LIke Flies On...

 

jpmcwjr

Moderator

Staff member

May 12, 2015

24,706

27,301

Carmel Valley, CA

• Aug 22, 2015

• #15

Now that's a clay pipe you can get your hands around!
Don't know if I am just grossed out or somewhat impressed by that man's living "style".

 

S

sw0snuff3r

Starting to Get Obsessed

Oct 3, 2014

239

1

• Aug 22, 2015

• #16

If you were smoking Merde de Cheval they'd probably be all over you!

 

jpmcwjr

Moderator

Staff member

May 12, 2015

24,706

27,301

Carmel Valley, CA

• Aug 22, 2015

• #17

Serious question: Wouldn't the human body after a few months of no bathing be so rank as to repel flies? Certainly would repel other people, and maybe dogs.

 

Perique

Lifer

Sep 20, 2011

4,098

3,884

www.tobaccoreviews.com

• Aug 22, 2015

• #18

Charles: flies love BBQs. It's not the smoke. It's the meat and the drippings.
Regarding the overall fly issue, it's likely the neighbors horses. I have 7 along with my other livestock and flies like horses. They peak in June/July and begin to dissipate by mid-August.
Flies don't actually like smoke all that much, and a good greenish bonfire near the grilling area will help keep them away.
If you've got a real problem, go for fly bags. Fly predators won't help since the flies are likely coming mainly from the manure next door.

 

prairiedruid

Lifer

Jun 30, 2015

2,004

1,135

• Aug 22, 2015

• #19

I've found that smoke works well for keeping the mosquitoes away.

 

ray47

Lifer

Jul 10, 2015

2,451

5,612

Dalzell, South Carolina

• Aug 22, 2015

• #20

I seem to attract bees when I'm smoking some Mixture 79. Dang things must think I'm a flower.