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Horse flies

Since moving to my present house I have had no problem with mozzies etc. but this year I am plagued with horse flies as is my daughter who lives locally near me. I was swatting constantly yesterday when trying to pick the blackcurrants.
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  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    We get them too, along withe other biting beasties so I've taken to using an insect repellent spray.  Works a treat when I'm down n the veggie plot which is in front of next door's cow barns and home paddocks.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I got bitten to bits picking fruit last week. We've also started getting these guys now too, they're like horse flies on sterioids. :#  So far I've managed to avoid a nibble but I imagine they could take your whole arm off if they wanted.



    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Yes - we're getting them very bad this year and also some of those monsters. What are those?
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    One of the giant horse flies. I think they prefer cows over anything else but I'm not going to risk a bite from something that can punch a hole through leather. :o
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Christos.
  • I have bites all over my arms and legs. Am thinking twice about trying to pick the redcurrants
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    That's not a bot fly but I don't know what it is. Never seen so many horse flies as this year.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I think it is Tabanus sudeticus the giant dark horse fly. The biggest fly in Europe apparently B)


    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Can you keep them over there please. I don't want them. I get bit bad enough by little midges.  A lot of horsey people used to come in for bottles of citronella oil to put on horses rugs to keep flies off in summer. Apparently it is no longer allowed to be sold as an insect repellant (not tested as such to EU standards), so you will find it labelled as aromatherapy oil. I  smear it around liberally on wooden surfaces when we are on holiday. (door frames, window frames etc.)
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    Can you keep them over there please. I don't want them. I get bit bad enough by little midges.  A lot of horsey people used to come in for bottles of citronella oil to put on horses rugs to keep flies off in summer. Apparently it is no longer allowed to be sold as an insect repellant (not tested as such to EU standards), so you will find it labelled as aromatherapy oil. I  smear it around liberally on wooden surfaces when we are on holiday. (door frames, window frames etc.)
    That's odd because they sell citronella in Belgium and Holland. 
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