Unidentified biting insect

[Scruffalina]

Over the weekend I was bitten by an insect that I've only seen once before. I have quite a reaction to it & have no idea what it is. It's about 1/2inch long, buff-coloured thinnish wings that it folds flat over its back, so that at rest it looks sausage-shaped. I've never been able to study it much as I'm too busy trying to get it off me! The bite is painful when it's made, then swells & goes red. The itch lasts for several days. I've been bitten before, once, in West Sussex near the South Downs & last weekend I was in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire. Can anyone help?

[The Woodman]

This fly sounds like The Woodmans arch enemy, the Horse Fly or Cleg, Haematopota pluvialis . Sneeky little devils, landing very quietly and then jab -ow!

Have a look at http://www.uknature.co.uk/H.pluvialis-info.html

[Gerel]

Splattered my first cleg of the summer today, nasty little blighters !

[Scruffalina]

Thanks Woodman, that sounds like it could be it! I never realised they were so small. I've known since I was little that horse flies were terrors but never seen one. Such a big result from such a titchy little beast - I'd be really impressed except I'm itching way too much to care! At least it's on my arm this time and there's more room to swell. Last time it was on the back of my hand & I swelled up so much I couldn't move the fingers...had to go to the Dr. in the end & get anti-histamine tablets! If my friend had let go of my feet, I'd have whizzed round the room like a balloon!!

[The Woodman]

It's the itching that's the hallmark of a Cleg bite, the longer the beast has its feeding parts in your skin, the longer the itching in my opinion.

[Scruffalina]

Mmm, you're probably right there! I knocked it off pretty quickly this time & it's been a lot better. I hope not to get too much more experience to judge by though! Happy country-walking!