Horseflies (Clegs).

[Dale.]

I don't hate many things but horseflies are close. I got bitten by one on Friday, near my lower jaw, right hand side of my face. I was in our garden. 2 days later and it's quite swollen and itchy, resisting the scratching isn't easy.

The thing is, I never felt it at the time, they have a crafty way of biting so that you rarely feel it. I always get a reaction, a smallish, hard lump, usually with an open pinhole and it itches. After a day or so, the swelling usually goes down, I think depending on how good it got me. This one got me good and has had a feast I think. I'm just using Germolene, to keep the area clean and also, reduce the itching.

Oddly, over the last couple of years, I've not been bitten at all, numbers of horseflies seemed to drop off. They do seem to be around with a vengeance here at the moment though. I'm off out for a few hours with the camera later, I think bug spray will have to be deployed.

Talk about midgies, yes, they are uncomfortable and annoying but give me a cloud of them over a single horsefly any day.

I know some people get different reactions to horsefly bites and I'm curious about why that should be and to what extent, it's a non event for some but can be a nasty experience for others.

Also, what prevention methods might be used?

 

[Barney]

Rhubarb leaves rubbed on as a preventative

 

[Son_of_Thor]

Seem to be loads of them about this year around us (Lancashire), arguably more than usual. Haven't found anything as yet that keeps them away unfortunately. I do usually feel them bite, but it's too late by then. Bites stay inflamed/itchy for days

 

[Barney]

These were from the West Pennine Moors

Bitten ten days ago now, had about ten in total

Back of my calf muscle

 

[Nostromo]

My wife has quite a bad allergic reaction to horsefly bites. The area of the bite really swells up. She has found out that horseflies (and my be other species) are confused by black and white stripes, like a zebra for example. She now wears a loose fitting, zebra pattern shirt and trousers, when she walks the dogs. It does seem to have worked so far.
For the treatment of any bites she gets (when not walking the dogs, just in normal daily life) she uses heat. So either a hairdryer, a spoon run under hot water, a flannel soaked in hot water. This apparently reduces the inflammation and the itching.
I don't have any reaction to horsefly bites (thankfully, as i work as a gardener), but they're still annoying little beggars.

 

[Nod]

Did a fair bit of kayaking around Blandford Forum in Dorset - home to the "Blanny Bomber"...

Blandford fly - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Midget horseflies with a worse bite!

Even the mention of Horseflies or BBs makes me itch.

 

[Dale.]

Driving yesterday and felt an itch behind my left knee, instinctively scratched it and felt a lump.......... yup, another horsefly must've got me on Friday, that'll teach me to cut the grass wearing shorts. This one has turned into quite a large bruise, must've been a messy eater.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Did a fair bit of kayaking around Blandford Forum in Dorset - home to the "Blanny Bomber"...

Blandford fly - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Midget horseflies with a worse bite!

Even the mention of Horseflies or BBs makes me itch.

I have a mark on one ankle from a bland ford fly bit 5 years ago. It formed a large granulomatous lump that has gradually dissipated, and it looks like a bruise now, though with hard nubbly bits under the skin.

We seemed to collect a lot of horsefly bites a couple of weeks ago while walking, but I did take revenge.

 

[Tringa]

Interesting thread.

I think you are blessed, Dale at not feeling cleg bites. For me they really hurt when they bite. However, I have luck the other way, after the initial pain of the bite I have no reaction. Mrs Tringa however, comes out in swollen, itchy wheals.

I agree Nod. I was once bitten by what I assume, by its appearance, was a Blandford fly or a close relative and yes, for their size, they do pack a punch.

I haven't noticed more clegs this year but there are more ticks here in the NW. Anyone one else been a host to the little characters more so this year?

Dave

 

[swanseamale47]

Your not alone. I hate the little..... flies too. Sadly they love me. They come in droves, bussed in just to annoy me.
Someone told me certain blood groups are more attractive to them. No idea if this it true.
Deet based repellent helps, but has a nasty habbit of melting plastic things... not great if your using a camera then.

 

[Nod]

Avon's Skin So Soft keeps the little buggzzers off me on holiday BUT they're not horseflies.

 

[whyone]

Tse-tse flies are the most tenacious bug....s I have come across. Their bite is like a hot needle. Nasty, nasty things.

But, like @Nod , Skin-so-soft does a pretty good job of keeping them away.

It amuses me to visit outdoor-sport type shops in the southern US states.....camo-everything you can imagine, and lovely pale blue bottles of Skin-so-soft to keep the mossies at bay!

Deet is the work of the devil (the US military!) and I'd rather (and have!) get bitten to oblivion than use it!

 

[Nod]

SSS doesn't work for Mrs Nod but DEET does.

I end up smelling like a tart's ar5e and she like a WW I trench after a gas attack!

 

[Dale.]

I've used SSS and had decent results with it, especially with midges. Not 100% effective (for me) but it does make it more bearable.

I once tried a repellent, I forget what it was but my skin got hot and itchy, worse than a bite. More worryingly, I felt faint too. Odd.

 

[BethAtTheHug]

I was being harassed by clegs on Sunday till I covered my face and arms in Smidge. A guy I met was wearing shorts had been bitten all over his legs.