In addition to it being watermelon season it's Deer Fly season. That season runs from Mother's Day to Father's Day and it's a real bummer.Deer Fly are a member of the Horse Fly family and they're vicious. Here's what Wikipedia says about them: They are smaller than wasps, and have coloured eyes and dark bands across their wings. While female deer flies feed on blood, males instead collect pollen. When feeding, females use knife-like mandibles and maxillae to make a cross-shaped incision and then lap up the blood. Their bite can be painful.
What an understatement! Their bite is beyond painful, you feel like something has taken a hacksaw to you. Mac says that if they were classified as a weapon the Geneva Convention would outlaw them because of their ferocity.
There is nothing you can spray on, wipe on or wear that will detract them. They'll bite right through you clothing.
A neighbor showed us how to get rid of them. It seems that they are attracted to the color blue----the flies, not the neighbor---and you can trap them. You paint a bottle blue, we use bleach and soap bottle, and then coat the bottles in a product called Tanglefoot. It's very sticky and will trap the flies.
You might think that sounds cruel, but obviously you've never been bitten by a deer fly. We have blue bottles all over our yard, so it's not too bad out there. But our morning walk has become an obstacle course as we try to avoid the flies. I've been bitten a number of times this week and it's no fun.
Can't wait for Father's Day.
I was bitten by one yesterday, right through my shirt. It is painful!! And the bad thing is, you don't know the darn fly is on your back until it bites, then you drop everything and slap real hard. They usually bite somewhere that you can't reach too. The blue jug thing is amazing! We need to try that. Good post! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteInteresting! We have them in August and the bites hurt so bad:(
ReplyDeleteNot a good thing, you would have thought in this day and age that there would be a repellent available. Take care.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing just how much irritation a simple bite from a fly will give to the recipient. First they are sore, then itchy, then often turn into a blister, and seem to last for days before they clear up.
ReplyDeleteWe get horse flies later in the season, too. Seems like they move north in search of prey. Little bastards.
ReplyDeleteOMG. How terrible to have them in such abundance. Thanks for the info on the blue color and product to catch them. I was stressing about some clover like weed patches that just popped up almost overnight, but your post brought me back to reality. We'll just spray some broadleaf spray and be thankful those weeds don't bite!
ReplyDeleteBeing bitten by insects makes life miserable. Interesting to hear about the solution you've applied in the garden to at least get some relief there.
ReplyDeleteEeek, they sound nasty. I don't think we can have them here, I've never heard of them before.
ReplyDeleteOuch! I'm glad to report they have yet to make their way across the Atlantic
ReplyDelete|They sound revolting! So glad we don't have them here! I always seem to attract insects anyhow even when other people don't get bothered.
ReplyDeleteWe get them down here in Florida too but the season is much longer, they are horrible.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
These sound horrible! I was bitten by a horsefly once when I was in New England and that was bad enough.
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