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So I've been in the Southeast US my entire life. I've been eaten alive by ants, spiders, mosquitoes, chiggers, sea lice, etc....but nothing comes close to the bites I got in the last couple of days while in Florida. I was attacked by several huge aggressive biting flies that weren't just opportunistic like mosquitoes - but like an attack dog that would not stop and would not stop chasing, and biting my legs.
I was up all night unable to get a minute of sleep because these huge swollen red sores are the itchiest things I have ever dealt with. Imagine the worst itch you've ever had and multiply it by 100. Just doesn't stop. I've tried everything and it looks like hell - like my legs have been blasted with a shotgun. Deep dark red spots the size of quarters. I slathered on 1% hydrocortisone but that doesn't do much.
My question is - is there something to keep these awful things away from me and is there something to put on these bites to make them heal and/or stop itching so badly?
Just another reason to stay the heck out of Florida.
Clothing with snug fitting cuffs (so they can't crawl underneath) and/or an application of higher concentration DEET based repellant. Try applying focused heat to the bites. Heat can disrupt the histamine reaction that causes the itch. Take this from someone who's lived in AK for decades. I've also lived in coastal NJ with its greenhead flies . They're a type of horse fly. Now you know why horses can generally go nuts when flies pester them.
Last edited by Parnassia; 04-03-2023 at 05:20 PM..
I think that is the type of fly that I dealt with.... green horse flies or something in that family. Much larger than regular flies and green in color for sure. Except there are no horses around here that I know of. Lots of mud. Maybe they live in the mud.
I think that is the type of fly that I dealt with.... green horse flies or something in that family. Much larger than regular flies and green in color for sure. Except there are no horses around here that I know of. Lots of mud. Maybe they live in the mud.
They tend to be more common near coastal and marshy areas. Their presence has nothing whatever to do with horses...horses simply provide one of many convenient warm-blooded meals as they don't have thick protective fur coats.
Family Tabanidae, horseflies have razor sharp scissor-like mandibles that draw blood so they can lap it up. So they aren't really biting, they are slicing and dicing! They are my least favorite summer pest.
So I've been in the Southeast US my entire life. I've been eaten alive by ants, spiders, mosquitoes, chiggers, sea lice, etc....but nothing comes close to the bites I got in the last couple of days while in Florida. I was attacked by several huge aggressive biting flies that weren't just opportunistic like mosquitoes - but like an attack dog that would not stop and would not stop chasing, and biting my legs.
I was up all night unable to get a minute of sleep because these huge swollen red sores are the itchiest things I have ever dealt with. Imagine the worst itch you've ever had and multiply it by 100. Just doesn't stop. I've tried everything and it looks like hell - like my legs have been blasted with a shotgun. Deep dark red spots the size of quarters. I slathered on 1% hydrocortisone but that doesn't do much.
My question is - is there something to keep these awful things away from me and is there something to put on these bites to make them heal and/or stop itching so badly?
Just another reason to stay the heck out of Florida.
Never had any probs with flies sly. Once in a while a small yellow fly with get on my nerves. Only huge fly i know about are them green horse flies. Never had them bother me and i have lived in FL all my life bra.
Clothing with snug fitting cuffs (so they can't crawl underneath) and/or an application of higher concentration DEET based repellant. Try applying focused heat to the bites. Heat can disrupt the histamine reaction that causes the itch. Take this from someone who's lived in AK for decades. I've also lived in coastal NJ with its greenhead flies . They're a type of horse fly. Now you know why horses can generally go nuts when flies pester them.
Great advice. Coming from FL, I always hiked in long sleeves, pants tucked into socks, etc. even in the hot months. I am up here in IL now and people look at me like I am crazy, but it at least somewhat helps with the bugs. That said, I still got ticks from time to time even with that setup.
check out the 'bug bite thing' - i think it's called. it uses suction to pull out the poison/stinger. they are widely available and cheap. i havent bought one yet, but they look/sound amazing.
So I've been in the Southeast US my entire life. I've been eaten alive by ants, spiders, mosquitoes, chiggers, sea lice, etc....but nothing comes close to the bites I got in the last couple of days while in Florida. I was attacked by several huge aggressive biting flies that weren't just opportunistic like mosquitoes - but like an attack dog that would not stop and would not stop chasing, and biting my legs.
I was up all night unable to get a minute of sleep because these huge swollen red sores are the itchiest things I have ever dealt with. Imagine the worst itch you've ever had and multiply it by 100. Just doesn't stop. I've tried everything and it looks like hell - like my legs have been blasted with a shotgun. Deep dark red spots the size of quarters. I slathered on 1% hydrocortisone but that doesn't do much.
My question is - is there something to keep these awful things away from me and is there something to put on these bites to make them heal and/or stop itching so badly?
Just another reason to stay the heck out of Florida.
Have you tried an antihistamine either topically or orally? Benadryl, for example?
I keep lavender oil, a natural antihistamine, on hand for itchy insect bites (but not if skin is broken from scratching). It's great for burns too.
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. They're a type of horse fly. Now you know why horses can generally go nuts when flies pester them.
