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Horse flies

A few of my regular gardens have horse flies in, really annoying today, I try to leave nature be and avoid killing things if I can help it but these things just do not leave you alone once they have found you.  Must have killed 3 of them but still more came.  ANyone else encounter these or other biting insects?  I don't wear repellent but have to say today it crossed my mind that it might be worth having some.

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  • PRO
    Oh Peter I can't believe you killed those poor little defenceless insects, shame on you..... Sorry just joking hahahaha, my biggest annoyance ATM are leaf hoppers, those little blighters bite proper... Got stung by a hornet today, happened this morning and still can't bend my ankle due to swelling....;-)
  • I come up in huge lumps from horse fly bites, it's really painful.

    I don't like the idea of using repellants every day, and have got pretty good at feeling that first bite and killing them. It seems you get a second or two before they inject whatever I'm allergic to.

    If it turns out there is a God after all, my first question will be why he created the horse fly. I bet he doesn't have an answer!

  • try a high garlic diet it gets in to your sweat glands and is a deterrent, the down side every one can smell you and tend to keep there distance  

  • Try spray yourself with some deodrant. That was all I could find one day and it worked a charm. <br />
    Still looking for a remedy for fire flies attracted to reflective jackets though.
  • Spent a Sunday morning last year  in A&E due to Horsefly bites. It was really painful experience. Told I may have to be admitted if the infection got worse. I was given a very high dose of anti-biotic to combat the infection. 

    The advice given to me was:

    1. Use Jungle formula spray;

    2. Use Avon original Skin so Soft spray as it contains citronella;

    3. Eat garlic;

    4.Take vitamin B supplements;

    5. Take Piriton (or cheaper brand chlorphenamine) tablets

    6. Have an after bite pen/ spray ready.

    Now do all above and so far so good this year. 

    • Thanks for advice, I only encounter them in certain gardens, and it's the same ones each year, one is actually a small farm and they do actually have horses.  Other one is down the road from some stables.

      WHat annoys me is that I don't like killing insects and it pains me even to kill them even though they are annoying.  In my book every insect is here for a reason and is a part in some food chain.  I've encountered hornets nests and wasps nests and was not stung once, I left them alone and they left me alone.  Both these insects are very important for pest control.  They get a bad reputation and it's wrong.  

      • PRO
        Very true Peter but anything that leaves a sting is going to get a bad rep with the general public who know nothing about these wonderful majestic insects, I have studied hornets when I was back in Oz and they truly are magical, it was my fault I was stung the other day as I put my ladder right on top of the boards the hornets were behind , to be fair i did well to only get one sting, as there were a lot in the nest. Horse flys not a problem where I am...
      • Boots Jungle formula, the one with the highest rating. 

        But beware there is something in it that reacts with jewellery, leather etc. As you know the gardens where the insects are plan ahead and spray yourself wearing old clothes. Also keep fingers away from eyes, nose lips as the oily film can irritate mucus membranes.

        I swear by the stuff, been using it for years when we go trekking in the tropics.

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