How to keep flying insects from front of lens while filming?

[Don Bloom]

Jonathan,
you say you're going to make a female grasshopper costume. I have to ask, do you plan on wearing it to distract the other little buggers? If you do wear it you MUST post a photo of yourself in the costume. No wait on second thought, you must not. ;-)
Sorry, but this topic is just one of those that can't be left on a serious note. Sorry!
O|O
\--/

[Jim Michael]

Welcome to the Deep South where many folks run a bug zapper while outdoors. Perhaps a UV light situated out of camera view would attract them away from your set.

[Ralph Gereg]

How about toting along a couple cans of compressed air designed for blowing off computer equipment and the like? Any time there is a bug in the way you can just give em a little blast with the canned air and blow them right out of the frame. Of course this solution only works as long as your mics are not within earshot of the air cannister when you use it.

[Allan Black]

Depends on how many flying bugs you're confronting. In the Smoky Mnts last Nov. we ran into dense swarms of little gnats, you can't open your mouth
you duck around them.

I think spraying a towel with insect repellant and waving it around might do it ... as long as it doesn't look like you're throwing it in :)

Cheers.

[Bryce Comer]

Here's a product you could try. From what I've read, they seem to work.
ThermaCELL® Mosquito Repellent – Olive Drab Appliance : Cabela's
Cheap enough to give it a go!
Good luck,
Bryce

[Mark Watson]

Sometimes you just gotta go with your gut... besides, what could go wrong? Just be extra careful while around any open flames so as to avoid a trip to the emergency room.

(I believe Marlin Perkins owned a few of these, swore by 'em)

[Trevor Dennis]

How about just timing your shoots around high bug time? Anyone here camped at the top of Wast Water in the English Lake District? every afternoon it was a mad rush to get everything squared away and the tent zipped before the sun dipped below Yewbarrow - the hill just west of the camp site. Within minutes of the sun disappearing, the midges would rise up out of the grass, and devour anyone who didn't have the sense to go to the pub.

Thinking about it, this is not great news as the golden hour light is going to be when the biters are at their most irritatingly prolific. All part of suffering for our art I guess. :-)

[Jonathan Levin]

Thanks all. All interesting advice, even the funny ones.

Does this grasshopper suit make my butt look big? ;-/

Jonathan