Bug Eyed Critters

[a.twiddler]

Bug Eyed Critters. Or, the perils of wearing shorts.

I've not been troubled much over the years by insect bites while out riding. Maybe it's because I don't generally wear shorts. However, on a recent ride with the heat and all, I thought I'd live dangerously and get my legs out.

Part of the route passed through Burton Marsh on the Wirral. I was fine before and after but I felt as if I was providing a meals on wheels service as I went through.
A bit itchy at the time, but I didn't get the full benefit until I got home.

It seems the female is the biter, with a good set of saw like mouth parts and hungry for blood to develop her eggs. Can apparently get through denim.

The male, looking all innocent with its big soulful eyes, lives on nectar.

I was more concerned that the last thing it bit before me was probably a sheep. Still, mostly healing now.

 

[Drago]

I get eaten alive by insects, so if Im going anywhere remotely green, even a park or playing field, I trouser up.

 

[Paulus]

The wee flying beasties love me. Insect repellant seems to attract them.
Anthisan cream and antihistamine tablets releive the worst of the itching.

 

[wafter]

That looks painful

I've got a similar one on my lower left leg after last night's ride - swollen, itchy and no doubt contributing to today's histamine-sponsored malaise..

 

[fossyant]

Horse fly bites can be nasty. A friend got bit on a MTB ride and it wasn't looking too nice at the end. Found out he'd had to go to A&E - so keep an eye on it.

 

[esoxlucius]

I go wayyyy to fast for any critters to catch me😄

 

[a.twiddler]

Can fly at 25-30mph. One of the speediest flies. Some reports suggest up to 90 mph in instantaneous bursts, but seems unlikely to me. They're not exactly streamlined, you'd think the wingtips would reach the speed of sound at those speeds, a tiny sonic boom, then the wings would fall off. Too fast for me, in any case.

House fly, about 4 mph. I can outrun one of those.

 

[G-Zero]

A giant horse fly landed on one of our walls a few days back. The image doesn’t show its size, but if that’s its cutting gear up front, no wonder they can bite through T-shirts !!

 

[esoxlucius]

Getting bitten whilst riding has never been an issue but bugs flying into my mouth and getting caught up in the vents in my helmet certainly have. And aphids, don't get me started on them. It's as if I'm made from velcro when I travel through a swarm of them blighters. I get absolutely full of them.

I'll also jump on the horsefly bandwagon whilst I'm at it. Nasty things. I've been bitten whilst in the garden on numerous occasions. They can't half nip. I wouldn't mind but we don't have any horses in the garden🤔

 

[a.twiddler]

Although there are many varieties of horsefly worldwide you can tell them apart. The harmless males have eyes that touch in the middle. The bloodsucking females have eyes that have a space between them. By the time you get close enough to tell the difference, you'll probably have a bite. They're very fast. They might be called horseflies but they'll bite anything. If they can get through cowhide and horsehide, humans are easy pickings.

 

[esoxlucius]

They're very fast.

So they're thoroughbred horseflies?😄

 

[fossyant]

A giant horse fly landed on one of our walls a few days back. The image doesn’t show its size, but if that’s its cutting gear up front, no wonder they can bite through T-shirts !!



View attachment 815108

My god, never seen one for real. My friend was the only one out of 5 to get eaten. It depends upon how tasty you are - I'm lucky I'm at the bottom of the taste test.

 

[fossyant]

So they're thoroughbred horseflies?😄

Definitely not a nag.

 

[a.twiddler]

The stuff of nightmares. The things protruding beneath and between the eyes are short antennae which you can see in @G-Zero's picture. The business end is the long split spike sticking downwards which has saw teeth for getting through tough hide. Be afraid! Be very afraid!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Some whole back Mrs SD had a nasty bite on her ankle from one of these bugs, turned septic and her leg turned red to just above her knee - worrying!

A couple of weeks of AB's sorted it.

A couple of years later she had the same thing on her arm.

Horseflies - the Devil's creatures. 👿