They drive you mad

[canonman]

Just been for a walk at lunch time See the bosses are very kind.!!
Had not been out more than a few minutes when I was covered in the small black flies.
Don’t know what you call them, but it’s not the same name I gave them.
How cam something so small cause maximum irritation.
Feels as if i'm alive with them.
Have now retired back to building to keep out the way
Mick

[Jonny]

Were they those thunder bugs, those tiny little black flys that just stick to your skin.
I was working on an extention a few years ago and a cloud of them came through and we were all covered in them, drove us all mad........

[Alan]

Harvest time is here, thunder/black fly season, especially when the take the peas/beans and rape up!

[canonman]

That's the little darlings.
By the time I’d finished scratching there were a few dead ones.
Been inside now for 20 mins and still feel them everywhere
Mick

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by canonman

That's the little darlings.
By the time I’d finished scratching there were a few dead ones.
Been inside now for 20 mins and still feel them everywhere
Mick

Know exactly how you feel, I am now scratching in sympathy..........

[Ollie]

Been plaqued by these little things round here the last few days, we call them rightly or wrongly thunderflies. They seem to show up more when the humidity is high, and as Alan mentioned when the harvest gets under way.
You have my sympathies, can't stand the things.
Roger

[DL]

If we are talking about Thrips, they are known where I live as Corn Lice.

[Imaginos]

The family name is Thysanoptera which I think means bristle-wing, there are around 150-160 species in Britain. Commonly called thrips (note the singular is also thrips) there are many local names for them. Where I grew up they were thunder blight. They are often on the wing at times of high air pressure and humidity which are also good conditions for thunderstorms. They live in vegetation, under loose bark and, particularly, in flower heads where they feed by piercing the plant cells and drinking the sap. Although irritating they are harmless to humans.

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by Imaginos

Although irritating they are harmless to humans.

Harmless............I nearly fell off the scaffolding, with my scratching, they are very dangerous..............

[gmsmith]

Oh dear, we hav'nt had them here yet, they play havoc on yer bald spot . Oh yes and don't wear yellow, a few years ago I wore a bright yellow teashirt and the wife was in her normal girly pink, she had a few on her shirt but I was covered in the damn things. or they just liked my deoderant . anyone else experienced similar, or am I the only nut who will no longer wear yellow when they are around .

Geoff

[canonman]

Hi Geoff.
Know what you mean about the bald spot, after yesterday think i've got one coming
Mick

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by gmsmith

Oh dear, we hav'nt had them here yet, they play havoc on yer bald spot . Oh yes and don't wear yellow, a few years ago I wore a bright yellow teashirt and the wife was in her normal girly pink, she had a few on her shirt but I was covered in the damn things. or they just liked my deoderant . anyone else experienced similar, or am I the only nut who will no longer wear yellow when they are around .

Geoff

It probably was the yellow T shirt, I have been pestered by insects before, when wearing yellow. If you wear black, they might think you are a big nasty bug and avoid you........

[gmsmith]

Originally Posted by Jonny

It probably was the yellow T shirt, I have been pestered by insects before, when wearing yellow. If you wear black, they might think you are a big nasty bug and avoid you........

Oh I wish..... now where did I put the cherry blossom polish