DRM
Legendary Member
- Location
- West Yorks
I got bitten on the backside by a Clegg in France, didn't half hurt, the bite swelled up too
Horseflies!
- Thread starter slowereveryyear
- Start date
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MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
people with an actual allergy to horsefly bites.
A guy i worked with was bitten on the forearm and it swelled to the size of his thigh. I can't say if it was sore for months or not but the swelling was huge for several days
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Mad Doug Biker
Mediocrity Manifest.
- Location
- Craggy Island
It was just the 'months' bit that got me.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
I tend to be rather "untasty", unlike my daughter who get's bitten. We are prepared for Scotland with Smidge and Avon Skin so soft, as well as midge nets and a tick remover - we're camping by lakes and in the forest. Never really have an issue in Wales where we usually camp (especially Shell Island where the wind is the main issue). I did try out a battery powered bug killer - great in the top of the tent/awning - any bugs get zapped by it when it's hung at the top of the tent's apex.
DRM
Legendary Member
- Location
- West Yorks
And the Clegg wasnt too happy either
Serves it right!
- Location
- Inside my skull
Well the midges will get you for calling them lakes
nogoodnamesleft
Senior Member
I heard the reports and thought it would be helpful to have been given more detail. For some, some insect bites can be serious eg people with severe allergy or anaphylaxis if they were not previously aware of their reaction (or if they don't have their injector).
Or it could be too many attending "because it itches". Interesting to know which or rather the numbers (couldn't find them using Google)..
wakemalcolm
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ratho
I splatted a particularly large one over my knee up in the hills this summer leaving a big streak of blood down one leg. Had to explain to another walker that I wasn't injured and that it was someone else's blood.
nogoodnamesleft
Senior Member
I find them a lot easier to "swat" (kill) with hand than houseflies. Once horsefly landed on skin they don't seem to notice a hand fast approaching them.
lazybloke
Chocolate eclairs: the peak of human endeavour
- Location
- Leafy Surrey
The horsefly bites were doubly surprising, because it often seems there are hardly any insects left!
The usual example is wasps when eating outside. These last few years it's rare to see any. Farmers being too free with neonicotinoids, presumably. Think of pollinators!
The front of the car is also remarkably free of insects these days. I remember summer drives to Cornwall circa 1990 when i'd stop halfway at a petrol station to scrub squished bugs off the front of the car. Not any more!
Electric_Andy
Heavy Metal Fan
- Location
- Plymouth
We've found the opposite, or at least no change in the last few years. My partner will probably be hospitalized if she gets stung by a wasp again (so said the hospital) so we are acutely aware of wasp activity. This summer has been about normal - many times on the decking we've had 2 or 3 wasps. Also when we were travelling around Europe, there seemed to be wasps everywhere. It could just be our location though (near a tidal lake) where we might be getting lots of midge/mozzie activity due to flowing and standing water, which then attracts wasps.
I also need to clear some old pots and rubble from below our decking, as I think any of that standing water is probably breeding more mozzies than if it were clear.