Highlander Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 Anyone know anything about flat flies, hippoboscids? Those horrible little grey looking monsters that you mostly see on black game (rooks crows etc) that don’t seem to fly so much as hop. They are a blood sucking louse fly that lives almost exclusively on birds so does anyone know (scientific answers please not conjecture) if they can carry diseases like ticks do? I believe they are becoming a problem in the USA with the West Nile Fever virus. And you thought we had a problem with bird flu??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobGee Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 Yuk!!!! Are you sure that they suck our blood? I've had the horrible things up my sleeves, under my shirt and on my neck, but I'm fairly sure (hopeful !!) that I've never "donated blood". Would like to know though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted September 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 BG don't get into a panic. As far as I can find out (so far) there are very few instances of them biting humans and then most likely they were just 'testing the water'. I've had the same problem, horrible little boogers jumping onto me and crawling over me and real ******** to get off they kinda cling unlike ordinary flies. Never seen them on pigeons but lots on crows and rooks especially if left for a while to cool down i.e. as decoys then when you go to pick 'em up the bugs jump up your arms, into your face and hair. I'm not squeemish but I hate them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
^mimic^ Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 Anyone know anything about flat flies, hippoboscids? Those horrible little grey looking monsters that you mostly see on black game (rooks crows etc) that don’t seem to fly so much as hop. They are a blood sucking louse fly that lives almost exclusively on birds so does anyone know (scientific answers please not conjecture) if they can carry diseases like ticks do? I believe they are becoming a problem in the USA with the West Nile Fever virus. And you thought we had a problem with bird flu??? Duno about those things but watch out for those ticks (limes disease) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeboy Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Those flys give me the creeps ! Over the last few weeks all the crows and pigeons seem infested with them but the birds appear healthy. I hate them they get on you and they are ******* to get off, they make my skin crawl. Leeboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobF Posted October 14, 2006 Report Share Posted October 14, 2006 They take some killing I'll grant you that. The worst place for flatflies in a game larder after a grouse day. West Nile Virus is likely to be the next big bad thing, I thought it was mozzies that spread it from birds to humans? There was a case recently of a guy who topped himself after developing severe depression after contracting Lyme's. Not nice at all. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quist Posted October 14, 2006 Report Share Posted October 14, 2006 West Nile Virus is spread by Mossies mostly from bird to bird. It crossed the US in five years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAMMY Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 Are you talking about "Keds" Deer are usually covered in them as well as ticks. Hammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted October 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 Yep I guess so. Wingless little boogers with suckers for feet that jump rather than fly and stick to you like glue. Not known to bite humans other than to test the flavour but horrible flesh crawling things all the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 Anyone got any picks or links to picks? Ta all, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballymac Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 Hi Mungler try this www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek051108.html or maybe this http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/livestock/pigeon_fly.htm Hope these work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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