Southern California is plagued with bugs that like to hang out right in front of your face. They will drive you nuts as they get in your eyes, up your nose, and in your mouth. Good thing I know how to confuse them–I hike under my umbrella and they go away.
I don’t know why this works but it does.
Very interesting, this would make a great episode of “mythbusters” (or not). I have some theories, perhaps the umbrella is disrupting the air flow as you walk in such a major way that bugs are forced to utilize all of their energy to fly away from the disruption? My second theory would be that the bugs are initially attracted to the carbon monoxide you exhale, walking with the umbrella must somehow make this signature less pronounced.
I think it’s just that they’re attracted to whatever part of you is highest. You can get the same result by holding your hand above your head.