Horse flys

[Stubby]

Horse fly or "scadd " its known as here . Luckily I don't react too badly . My wife has just bought something for the horse . She says its its only one that works . Not sure if it can be put on us but will ask her what its called later .

 

DEET . By Naff off . Does not say you can or can't put it on you but does say to wash your hands before handling food . Maybe you could just put it on your cloths ?

[hazzygawa]

You know your getting bit when you smack them off and and they stay attached to your body.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Horse flies are sight hunters. They find their prey by looking for movement and high contrast to the surrounding area.....so I'm told. Full camo gear should work:001_smile:

 

They are evil that's for sure. I understood they (or atleast the female) find you by CO2. Solution - wear a re-breather

[Fairmer]

I have heard taking vitamin B supplements is good as your body secretes some chemical when you take it daily that biting insects don't like, but I am not a doctor so can not verify this.

[JonnyVine]

Aldi were selling biting insect repellant the year before last @ £1 a bottle, I bought 20 quids worth and it contains "Deet", it works but you have to spray everything including your clothing!

They can detect movement, vibration and scent so you can not hide from them!

 

I would not advise anyone to just "get on with it", that dosen't achieve anything, these little blighters spend their lives sucking blood from animals arses including Rats, hence the nasty reactions reported by some people, its not the individual that has a particular allergy to the fly, more of what the fly had its probocis inserted in before it inserted it into you.

 

 

Jonny

[Marc Lewis]

DEET . By Naff off . Does not say you can or can't put it on you but does say to wash your hands before handling food . Maybe you could just put it on your cloths ?

 

DEET has been used by travellers across the world over the years to stop the mossies'. I'm sure there was a study done very recently that proved it was totally ineffective.

[Rich2484]

DEET has been used by travellers across the world over the years to stop the mossies'. I'm sure there was a study done very recently that proved it was totally ineffective.

 

Maybe for them but I remember the stuff that used to melt plastic. Army issue.

[Amelanchier]

Most of the Horse fly species in the UK don't bite like a mosquito as their proboscis (the pointy stabby drinky bit) is too short so they just cut a nice hole in your skin with their mandibles and lap at your emerging blood / plasma. Just the females mind - they need to drink your blood before they can reproduce. Nice huh?

Edited May 3, 2013 by Amelanchier

[StephF]

Deet is 100% effective against Kielder midges, so I'd try it for clegs,

Someone (on the forum) told me they only bite where you cant see them: ie your back, backs of arms, legs etc, if you put some 'eyes' on the back of your helmet (glasses back to front) or t shirt they dont bit so much!! sounds as if you'd look stupid, cant say I tried it, but its worth a try?

[jennie]

We use dettol diluted in a small amount of water on the horses and us in summer, it works pretty well, it also means that if you do get bitten you're covered in antiseptic so that helps to stop the swelling.It's safe to use despite saying it's for cleaning floors ect, i've not been bitten by a horse fly since we started using it, it's not the best but it's way better than nothing. The lavender one makes you smell lovely as well