FAQ: Are the bugs bad?

Well, that depends on your perception. If you don’t have a certain comfort level with all things that slither, creep and crawl, you might want a vacation in… a city or biosphere or something less natural. Dewees is a healthy, diverse environment where you can watch the food chain in action. We don’t spray pesticides… mosquito control is accomplished with bats, birds, and organic larval interrupters in the water. Most of the time, this works pretty well, but in times of standing water and heavy rainfall, the buzzing fliers are fierce, formidable, and appear to be organized.

You will come across some other bugs. Spiders hang out where the mosquitoes can get caught in their webs, Palmetto bugs scurry across porches, mud daubers build interesting structures under the eaves. If you rethink bugs as wildlife, you will be thrilled with the diversity they offer. Swallows and flycatchers swoop around and grab bugs over the ponds on the island and are spectacular to watch. Please use bug spray judiciously (don’t spray where it might harm beneficial insects like butterflies). I usually carry a container of benedryl to treat bugbites with.

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