Horse flies

[Cirrus_Minor]

Never seen as many horse flies as I have seen this summer. I have been bitten twice, Mrs CM is a martyr to numerous bites and one of the grand kids had a bite that caused her arm to swell and needed antibiotics.

[claretburns]

Got a bite on Friday when doing some gardening, been itching ever since!

[bfcjg]

Occupational hazard in Blackburn.

[kentonclaret]

The smell of Citronella oil and Citronella candles will act as a deterrent to horse flies.

[clarets12]

Definitely something to complain about.

[Rowls]

Nasty little critters.

[Rileybobs]

Awful things. I was on holiday in Tuscany a couple of years ago and it was impossible to walk the half mile from the accommodation to the main road without coming under constant attack. My understanding is that they don’t land on you to bite, they take a chunk out of you whilst on the move making them hard to swat away.

[Quickenthetempo]

Horrible little things. Last 3 years they have been a lot more noticeable around here.

Skin so soft repels them for me.

[beddie]

Nasty little buggers. You can end up with a horrible blister. It’s just the right weather for them unfortunately

[SlidingTackle]

Clegs, please.

[NottsClaret]

I never used to react to bug bites but after a couple of bad ones in the last few years I’ve started using that ‘Jungle Spray’ off Amazon. I think it might be banned in some countries but you can get it here.. nothing has even landed on me since, it’s good stuff.

[beddie]

I never used to react to bug bites but after a couple of bad ones in the last few years I’ve started using that ‘Jungle Spray’ off Amazon. I think it might be banned in some countries but you can get it here.. nothing has even landed on me since, it’s good stuff.

Thanks Notts. I’ve ordered some off Amazon. Watch the price go up shortly due to demand.

[Duffer_]

I caught one feeding on my forearm. Squashed it and got a fair amount of blood on my hand - presumably mine. I bought some deet free spray from Amazon yesterday but maybe should have got myself a 'bigger boat' with that Jungle Formula!

[Shaggy]

Get the smokingmidge stuff. Maybe a little awkward going for a stroll but if you are laid down in the park, or doing the gardening or a spot of fishing it’s by far the best iv ever used to repel nasty flying bugs.

[aclaretinstevenage]

The smell of Citronella oil and Citronella candles will act as a deterrent to horse flies.

Citronella wrist bands my wife bought from Amazon worked wonders on Mozzies in Cuba - I know they worked because I left them off on the last night there and got bitten mercilessly having had no bites the previous 10 nights!

Feel sure they would work on Horse Flies.

[kentonclaret]

Citronella wrist bands my wife bought from Amazon worked wonders on Mozzies in Cuba - I know they worked because I left them off on the last night there and got bitten mercilessly having had no bites the previous 10 nights!

Feel sure they would work on Horse Flies.

For sure they work on Horse Flies. I always keep a small pot of cotton wool balls sprinkled with Citronella oil in my bedroom during the summer months to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes or horse flies during the night.

[PaintYorkClaretnBlue]

I’m on my second course of antibiotics for three horsefly bites, turned into cellulitis now!

[elwaclaret]

I avoid the outside in the evenings in summer as much as possible… it stops those lovely evenings sitting out and chilling (which I love abroad) but if I do it here I look like I’ve been used as a target for shortsighted paintballers. I refuse to use antibiotics for bites. I find that a liberal application of Sadacrem and a lint plaster overnight draws the gunk in a couple of days then I’m just left with a a bright red blotch that will eventually fade to a small scar… but at least gets rid of the irritation.

[Jel]

I got bitten by one a few years ago in Abersoch. Local chemists could prescribe an antibiotic cream which eventually worked after my ankle had blistered and doubled in size, down to my foot.
Then 2 weeks ago I got bitten on the elbow, my arm swelled from the armpit to my hand. I had to go to hospital where I was on an antibiotic drip for 3 hours. A week later and a course of capsules, it's just about right again.
I normally use Avon Skin so soft, but hadn't thought to use it that day.

[kentonclaret]

I avoid the outside in the evenings in summer as much as possible… it stops those lovely evenings sitting out and chilling (which I love abroad) but if I do it here I look like I’ve been used as a target for shortsighted paintballers. I refuse to use antibiotics for bites. I find that a liberal application of Sadacrem and a lint plaster overnight draws the gunk in a couple of days then I’m just left with a a bright red blotch that will eventually fade to a small scar… but at least gets rid of the irritation.

You can still sit outside and enjoy the summer evenings so long as you take some preventative measures. Burning a Citronella candle (widely available from many retail outlets) on a nearby table will keep horseflies and mosquitoes out of the vicinity.

[HollandsPies]

It's only the females wot bite.
I use a bit of DDT which tends to keep them away.

[Taffy on the wing]

Horrible little things. Last 3 years they have been a lot more noticeable around here.

Skin so soft repels them for me.

I use that for Mozzies over here....works great.

[Taffy on the wing]

I’m on my second course of antibiotics for three horsefly bites, turned into cellulitis now!

Same happened to my Mum last year......nasty business!

[PaintYorkClaretnBlue]

Same happened to my Mum last year......nasty business!

Both the 111 operator and the doc that I spoke to said that they are particularly nasty this year.

[Clovius Boofus]

I cannot use Skin So Soft in hot weather. It makes me overheat when out hiking. I tend to use a Deet spray repellent like Jungle Formula.

[BennyD]

For a moment I thought Pegasus had become a reality.

[dougcollins]

I use that for Mozzies over here....works great.

As an angler, I've found 'Skin so soft' has a pretty much 100% success rate against midges, but I'm not finding it anywhere near as effective against some of the mosquitoes we're now encountering in the uk.

It works by forming a physical barrier, and to be honest, the larger mozzies just ignore it. The ones with the banded light and dark abdomen-which are the biggest I encounter - just act like it's not there.

[Woodleyclaret]

Toothpaste or bicarbonate of soda made into a thick paste works on stings or bites

[Taffy on the wing]

As an angler, I've found 'Skin so soft' has a pretty much 100% success rate against midges, but I'm not finding it anywhere near as effective against some of the mosquitoes we're now encountering in the uk.

It works by forming a physical barrier, and to be honest, the larger mozzies just ignore it. The ones with the banded light and dark abdomen-which are the biggest I encounter - just act like it's not there.

I didn't know there were Mozzies in England.....When i got to Los Angeles in '84 there were none.
We now have 32 different kinds Globalization!
I use the skin so soft Picaridin wipes, they work great.
Mind you, we recently have a new type which bite during the day

[Bosscat]

I didn't know there were Mozzies in England.....When i got to Los Angeles in '84 there were none.
We now have 32 different kinds Globalization!
I use the skin so soft Picaridin wipes, they work great.
Mind you, we recently have a new type which bite during the day

Apparently in London there is a specific type of Mosquito on the London Underground ... Only learned that watching Gary Linekers Quiz Show tonight

Screenshot_20230625_205814_Chrome.jpg (111.04 KiB) Viewed 2111 times

[kentonclaret]

Apparently in London there is a specific type of Mosquito on the London Underground ... Only learned that watching Gary Linekers Quiz Show tonight Screenshot_20230625_205814_Chrome.jpg

“MIND THE GNAT”

[yTib]

Definitely something to complain about.

definitely another muchacho.

how are you still allowed on this?

[JohnMac]

I’m on my second course of antibiotics for three horsefly bites, turned into cellulitis now!

Nasty!

[clarets12]

definitely another muchacho.

how are you still allowed on this?

How are you still breathing?

[Venkys4eva]

Worse year ever for the little b******s! They seem to love me too, I got bitten by 5 at once on a walk last week. I bought some insect repellent and so far so good.

[blackburnturfite]

Occupational hazard in Blackburn.

One measure, £4 dettol/4water, got this tip off a lady who always rides horses, i walk a lot thru fields and woods, keep a mixture in car,, never been bitten since!

[bfcjg]

https://uk.yahoo.com/style/brits-warned ... 56158.html
Little sods have toughened up

[IanMcL]

Evidently, prolonged hor weather and some wind, has brought them in! Antiseptic and ice pack recommended as initial treatment.

[Lowbankclaret]

Jungle formula keeps them away, us fisherfolk, swim in it at times.

[BennyD]

Worse year ever for the little b******s! They seem to love me too, I got bitten by 5 at once on a walk last week. I bought some insect repellent and so far so good.

Work harder, and buy a car. There’s no need to walk these days, it can be bad for your health.