Bugs & feasibility of bivying in New England in June?

That bad huh?  Haha.....I usually see them dissipate by late July up there, but may delay a few weeks if I hear they're terrible   

Was hiking in Sandwich wilderness (southern whites) last week.  The black flies above 3000' were ridiculous (as in, can't even stop hiking to enjoy a view).  Below that elevation, it was more mosquitoes, but you could get 4-7 per swat so they were quite thick.  At mount Oscar two weeks ago it was arguably not tolerable with black flies, noseeums, mosquitoes and deerflies hitting you all at once.  It's a pretty bad season for bugs in the whites in general this year based on my observations...
    

Been going out every weekend, and can confirm they’re terrible across the board. Worse if there’s humidity and standing water. Better if there’s heat + sun + altitude.

Holy hell....as someone been going to the Whites for 30+ years, it sounds almost as bad as it gets.  If it doesn't rain much the next few weeks I'm still considering second half of July though

P S wrote: Been going out every weekend, and can confirm they’re terrible across the board. Worse if there’s humidity and standing water. Better if there’s heat + sun + altitude.

Rumney seems to get fewer bugs for whatever reason. The back country crags are rough. 
Last week: caved and slathered on 30% deet. Result? Flies in eyes, 3 ticks, and astounding resemblance to a chicken pox victim by mid-day. 
Pack up the cortisone, cause it’s rough out there. 

They've improved considerably at lower elevations here in the MWV, probably due to it finally getting hot and summer like around here. Still pretty brutal higher up.

Worst I've ever seen in Maine this year, by a fair margin. Ben's 100 or bust!

Has anyone experienced gear damage with 100% deet?

P S wrote: Has anyone experienced gear damage with 100% deet?

My partner decided to go nuclear and ended up with rope dye all over his palms. 

I melted part of my helmet once with deet

We have had very good luck with the white mountain insect repellant. Swarming black flies but no actual bites. And it won’t melt your helmet. 

A cocktail of deet, picardin, and permethrin-treated clothing has worked for me in Western Maine this week. In some areas it's still pretty bad with black flies getting in your eyes, but manageable for the most part. 

+1 for white mountain insect repellant.

P S wrote: Has anyone experienced gear damage with 100% deet?

My partner decided to go nuclear and ended up with rope dye all over his palms. 

DEET will dramatically increase the number of falls your rope will sustain in the UIAA drop test. Ropes don't come impregnated with DEET because the rope stretch also increases dramatically.

Testing by the German Alpine Club; write-up available in one of Pit Shubert's "Safety in Rock and Ice" series.

P S wrote: Has anyone experienced gear damage with 100% deet?

My partner decided to go nuclear and ended up with rope dye all over his palms. 

From the FAQ page for Off repellent:

OFF!® repellent will not damage cotton, wool, or nylon. Do not apply OFF!® repellent with DEET on or near acetate, rayon, spandex or other synthetics (other than nylon), furniture, plastics, watch crystals, leather, and painted or varnished surfaces including automobiles.

Marc801 C wrote:

From the FAQ page for Off repellent:

OFF!® repellent will not damage cotton, wool, or nylon. Do not apply OFF!® repellent with DEET on or near acetate, rayon, spandex or other synthetics (other than nylon), furniture, plastics, watch crystals, leather, and painted or varnished surfaces including automobiles.

Nitrile coated gloves will melt 

By way of update: ​There’s a new tick in town.​​​