popa bear Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 Is it me or are other PW members affected.On my last 6 outings over the past few weeks i seem to get eaten alive by airborne carnivores.A couple of weeks ago i was out with a guy i'm trying to help along the way and he was covered in horse flies and didn't get bitten were as i didn't see any on me but i got bitten may i add that my permissions are arable no livestock anywhere. It's not just limited to horse flies i got bitten the other day by some small black flies and came up in 11 big wealds on my back and shoulder.Went out late last night didn't feel anything and then realised i had 2 big lumps on my neck like i had been bitten by a vampire.Is there an unusual abundance of the little devil's or is it because they find me tasty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 There seems to be a few more about this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 Them Horse flies are some nasty blighters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveyg Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 try avon so soft and 100% deet spray...works for me.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 I use my daughter's ponies fly spray, since using that I've not been touched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncher Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 I Think the little black ones are called Blamford flies and their bites are terrible with large swelling and itching ,for a very small fly they pack a punch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 surely any old insect repellent will do but I think they find you sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 I Think the little black ones are called Blamford flies and their bites are terrible with large swelling and itching ,for a very small fly they pack a punch. Blandford I believe as they were either first identified or indigenous to Blandford in Dorset. I have a bite in my nether regions at the moment which I believe is an ant bite. Horse flies just love me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 I always get bitten but this year I'm getting bites on top of bites. My elbow is twice the size it normally is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 One good thing about Parkinson's is the beggars don't land for long enough to bite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 I am one of those that rarely get bitten by anything, but a fellow shooter got bitten last week by (he thinks) a horse fly on the side of his eye and it closed it up. Warmth and moisture combining does seem to aid the breeding cycle of the predators. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popa bear Posted August 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Blandford I believe as they were either first identified or indigenous to Blandford in Dorset. I have a bite in my nether regions at the moment which I believe is an ant bite. Horse flies just love me. And what would Mrs JDog say about a swelling in your nether regions i wonder would she suggest application of some cream or ointment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 I use my daughter's ponies fly spray, since using that I've not been touched. hello, maybe of help to others if you can say what brand this is ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedge Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 According to my horse riding missus - there is an abundance of horse flies this year so that isn't helping. I'm lucky that I'm not that tasty to most critters but I pity those that are. I used to use Jungle Formula but you have to keep it away from plastic things as it can melt it. Not sure if it's as potent as it used to be. If you are bitten by a horse fly or have any serious swelling then taking antihistamines can help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 No see um's. Horrible little *******! Stung by a Hornet that crawled up my trouser leg on Saturday whilst pigeon shooting. Now that was (is ) painful!! the left hand side of my right ankle is still swollen and tender to touch with a nasty red blotchy rash around the sting site. The Hornet paid dearly. I Think the little black ones are called Blamford flies and their bites are terrible with large swelling and itching ,for a very small fly they pack a punch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Been attacked recently while out shooting by some of these, think they are called Pirate bugs, they are about 2-3mm long and leave a small red and itchy spot after they bite you, mind you nothing compared to a horse fly bite, I come up like a balloon and takes a long time for it to heal and stop itching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarneyC Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 I'd second the suggestion of Avon Skin-So-Soft (useless when stalking rabbits though). I balloon as well so keep an Aspivenin pack in the truck and another in the house. If you get to the bite within a few minutes it will suck the nastiness right out and results in almost no reaction. I did a horse fly bite 24hrs later a couple of weeks back and it sucked out some gubbins that was still knocking around. Best £15 I've ever spent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popa bear Posted August 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 I'd second the suggestion of Avon Skin-So-Soft (useless when stalking rabbits though). I balloon as well so keep an Aspivenin pack in the truck and another in the house. If you get to the bite within a few minutes it will suck the nastiness right out and results in almost no reaction. I did a horse fly bite 24hrs later a couple of weeks back and it sucked out some gubbins that was still knocking around. Best £15 I've ever spent. I take on board your suggestion but the trouble is with a lot of these little biters is you don't know they have bitten you till quite a while afterwards so quick action is impossible.The little black ones bites didn't come up till several hours later and the only way i knew it was one of them was because i caught the little devil biting my hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted August 5, 2016 Report Share Posted August 5, 2016 Been attacked recently while out shooting by some of these, think they are called Pirate bugs, they are about 2-3mm long and leave a small red and itchy spot after they bite you, mind you nothing compared to a horse fly bite, I come up like a balloon and takes a long time for it to heal and stop itching. Anthocorid bugs. Incredibly useful predators as far as growers are concerned and a very welcome sight in my crops. Absolute b*****s as far as biting goes!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bimble Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Not sure if this works for everyone, but I use Citronella oil mixed in a little water. Keep it in a cheap spray bottle, costs pennies, works for me but stinks a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben0850 Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Clegs / horseflys etc are in abundance this year in our neck of the woods, wet and mild winters are to blame. I blather myself in 'Smidge' when climbing in the highlands and it works for midges, it is also bloody marvellous for clegs back home in the Dales, I can be walling all day covered in Smidge and not get tagged once, leave uncovered skin available in July and it's guaranteed I will get bitten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 i think mrs jdog might be quite happy with the xtra swelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted August 9, 2016 Report Share Posted August 9, 2016 hello, maybe of help to others if you can say what brand this is ?? It's DEET based, I'll find out the name of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakey Boy Posted August 9, 2016 Report Share Posted August 9, 2016 Hi Chaps, Been reading the site for a year or two, and really enjoyed the advice and banter, so decided to join. Like Jdog, damn horse flies love me, and I'm alergic to them . Her indoors brought me some Avon Skin So Soft, and I thought just what you are thinking, but the stuff has an insect repellent which works better then any other spray I've used before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted August 9, 2016 Report Share Posted August 9, 2016 I think different things work for different people. The mrs and I tried Avon skin so soft the other day and I was bitten within a minute of going out and it made no difference to the number of bites I got. The mrs actually got bitten more than usual. Back to the drawing board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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