Blandford Fly

mwaldock · #1 (**permalink**) 17-12-2011, 07:27 AM

Hello,
I’m on my 4th Blandford fly bite this year. I noticed the start of the latest one on the 11.12.11. I think i have one in my house. This bite is on the top of my foot, and it’s always the same leg. None of the so called treatments has done me any good. From antibiotics to creams and pills. Nothing seems to work !!! I’ve never seen or heard the fly. It usually starts with a sore itch and quickly develops from there. There is no standing water or rivers where i live.

It’s totally debilitating and i’m getting desperate.

I’rd like to know how long a Blandford fly can live, in my house or in its natural environment.

I do have photos of various stages of the bites progress.

Is there anything you may know that i might not of tried yet ?

After all of the above it may not be this fly. And i have not been to any foreign parts where i could of picked up something. For all i know the insect or fly may of come in from exotic fruit i purchased or Foxes that i have in my garden.

I’m desperate for help that works.
Martin

nightshade · #2 (**permalink**) 17-12-2011, 09:00 AM

Why do you think it is Blandford Fly? IF you have pets or visit friends with pets it could be Fleas, it could even be Bed Bugs!
There is a lot of info on the interweb similar to this Blandford fly bites: Symptoms and treatment
Have you been prescribed Anti-Histamine?

mwaldock · #3 (**permalink**) 18-12-2011, 02:26 PM

Hello Night Shade,
Could i send you some photos ? I'm new to this. I tried to up load some photos of the bites but the system says they are too big. 2.63MB. If i could send you some photos you could see what i'm up against.

Regards, Martin.

nightshade · #4 (**permalink**) 18-12-2011, 03:11 PM

Download IrfanView - Official Homepage - one of the most popular viewers worldwide and reduce your images to suit.
You will benefit from a wider viewing and probably get many more answers and assistence

triops · #5 (**permalink**) 18-12-2011, 03:34 PM

I doubt a Blandford fly would live in your house. Do you live anywhere near Blandford? Most of the "insect bites" I have been involved in are reactions to plants, particularly when plant material has been injected by spikes or thorns, especially on the leg or foot.

APC · #6 (**permalink**) 18-12-2011, 05:30 PM

I had a Blandford Fly bite about 10 years ago. It was really fun. It was solid, about 6 inches of swelling on my leg. Itched liked hell. Antihistamines and antibiotics sorted it out within a couple of days.

Dogghound · #7 (**permalink**) 18-12-2011, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwaldock

I’m on my 4th Blandford fly bite this year. I noticed the start of the latest one on the 11.12.11.

Its to late in the season to be bit by one of these flies. The female bites prior to breeding.

Tringa · #8 (**permalink**) 18-12-2011, 06:38 PM

The following is based on the bites I have had from what I believe to be Blandford Fly. I am fairly confident it was BF but I could be wrong so this could be incorrect.

If it was Blandford Fly I'm surprised it happened indoors. Blandford Fly are almost always close to water. I was bitten while I was working close to our pond.

December does seem late, especially as most places have had some frost, though my bite was in mid October BUT it was particularly mild at the time.

The main thing that makes me think it is not Blandford Fly is that you say you have never seen or heard them. If what I had was Blandford Fly then I think you would have noticed the fly.
The bite really hurts, it was enough to make me stop and look and think, "what the ******" and then notice a very small, generally, black fly and a small trickle of blood on my ankle. I speak as someone who has been bitten by clegs quite a few times and the initial effect of BF is at least as bad IMO and the reaction is far worse.

However, whatever you were bitten by is clearly unpleasant and you are suffering. Have you been to the docs? Hope it goes away soon.

Dave

eucera · #9 (**permalink**) 18-12-2011, 06:56 PM

Having lived and worked in the Stour valley (near Wimborne) for many years, I can assure you that the Blandford fly is active in May and early June, and it is very seldom found more than a short distance from rivers. The larvae are aquatic. If you are getting nibbled at this time of year, then I suspect some other villain is responsible

Salmondave · #10 (**permalink**) 10-02-2012, 06:40 PM

Had two encounters with BF at Walthamstow Reservoirs whilst fly fishing in early Nov. 2011. First time, bitten twice on hand, which in a day felt like it was bursting and fingers couldn't grip anything. Doctor gave me antibiotics and these did the job in three days. A couple of days later fished again - and got bitten again - but carefully removed it in time to avoid infection, and to get an absolutely definite ID. So Nov. isn't too late for them in London at least. Area I was fishing was near a slow stream - ideal breeding place for BF. Couple of fishery staff told me they had been bitten whilst working in the same place. Guess I'll be encountering them again through most of this year. Happy days.