Horse Flies are sods!!!

[Globalti]

At least when you're walking in Scotland a horse fly bite takes your mind off the midges.

 

[MarkF]

Got one just below my knee in the Dales last week, 2 days later a mini-Etna and swollen from knee to ankle, sore shin bone and as itchy as hell Pus everywhere

 

[johnnyh]

oooof the fun I have to look forward to then.

 

[Globalti]

Pus means infection - get some antibiotics. I got an infection off a wasp sting once.

 

[Fnaar]

The female of the species is more deadly than the male (apparently:

(wikipedia):
Adult horse flies feed on nectar and sometimes pollen. Females require a blood meal for reproduction. Males lack the necessary mouth parts (mandibles) for blood feeding. Most female horse flies feed on mammal blood, but some species are known to feed on birds, amphibians or reptiles. Immature or larval horse flies are fossorial predators of other invertebrates in moist environments.