Biting Insects - Anyone??

[stever]

Start smoking, when in the Army on Junggle training there where 3 in my platoon that smoked, we did not get bothered. Have a word with Slow Hand. that stuff that he smokes will see anythink off.
All jokes apart, avoid using strong smelling deoderants and perfumes, these attract the little sods.

[Swaledale]

Sadly the fact is that these little (and not so little) S*ites are tuned in to the CO2 we give off. Hang around long enough and they will track you down. I am curently nursing a swollen foot with a blister 35mm by 25mm and 20mm high. when it settles I will have a small black scar to match a few others. Last month I couldn't even move the fingers on my left hand, it was so swollen!

One of the best solutions to keeping the little buggers away is to burn dried cow pats. They don't like it at all. Used to use 'em all the time in the bush here. Our mosquitos are so big that they need a crew of three to operate them, have to lodge flight plans and must have drilling licences before they are allowed to bite people.
.................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ...Truly!

[NeilM]

Doing a very quick look round the net, you seem to have been bitten by a Bee Fly.

They are not native to the UK, but have been found only a few miles off shore. So given the extended period of hot weather, it is a possibility that some my have made it to your area.

We have seen an increase in Deer Fly this summer, their bites make Horse Fly bites look like mere pin pricks.

Aaaahhh, the joys of global warming.

[provins]

[quote=NeilM]Doing a very quick look round the net, you seem to have been bitten by a Bee Fly.

Just Yahood Bee Fly and the description does not match Max's.
Also some Bee Flys appear to be indigenous and protected.

[CPlater1]

did the insect have a red and black pattern of some kind on its back? My dad got bit by one the other day.

Chris

[Max]

I have been trawling the internet trying to identify the damn thing too - the nearest I can get is the family Hemiptera (bugs) which includes Assassin bugs. I found a link to an insect called Triatomine or 'Kissing Bugs' because of their habit of biting on the face. However it is not quite right in colour but it is the right shape. I have lived on Farms and in the country all my life but never seen one of these before.