How often is a bug net necessary?

[Wise Old Owl]

How often is a bug net really necessary? They seem to be the heaviest part of the set up. I usually camp in the southern Apps. My tents had bug nets and my HH has one but I've tarped a few times w/o and was fine after using bug spray.

I haven't used Permethrin, but if clothes and hammock are treated and you're using a max DEET spray, wouldn't you be OK? I heard that black flies are devils with wings but I've never had to deal with them.

I broke this out of Sgt Rocks Thread because it was very interesting question that deserved more attention. Suddenly I have access to Permethrin and other sprays and nothing compares to backpacking in Canada with all the black flies and blood suckers. I went to bed one sunset only to have a scout jump into the tent after dark and then later discover a thousand mosquitos full of blood hanging inside the tent an hour later. We had been sucked dry for the minute that the door was open.