Horse fly bites

[roobarb]

Hi
We seem to be having a record year for horseflies in Somerset and I am pee'd off with bites. What acts as a good natural repellant? Have tried eating raw garlic (family loved that one!) and lots of marmite but they very clearly have not worked. Any ideas considered!

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by roobarb

Hi
We seem to be having a record year for horseflies in Somerset and I am pee'd off with bites. What acts as a good natural repellant? Have tried eating raw garlic (family loved that one!) and lots of marmite but they very clearly have not worked. Any ideas considered!

I share your frustration having succumbed to these critters several times myself in the last few weeks.

There are more posts with some potentially useful info here: -
Beware the Biters!
2010 - an exceptionally bad year for bites....?

Regards,
Mike.

[artdemole]

Seems that best repellent are insecticides that contain DEET

[glsammy]

I was out last week and didn't realise how often I'd been bitten, even though I'd used a commercial spray. I found out as I was walking back to my car when my Mrs noticed the blood dripping from my hand..

[Gill Catton]

I was standing next to two fellas being pestered by horseflies over the last couple of days and although I normally get bitten, I wasn't this time. I'm wondering if it might be my bergamot body lotion as citronella is known as an insect repellent and bergamot is similarly citrusy. However, now that I said that out loud, it will probably stop working!!!

[paulinemiller10]

As kids growing up in the country, we often got a bite from horse flies, we found if we left the fly to finish his dinner, he would suck the poison he had put back out, and there would be no itchy lump.

A few days ago I was walking in a country lane with my camera and felt a sting on my hand, it was a horse fly, I filmed it for a while, and then pushed it a bit, but it was'nt going, it was still hungry lol, so I waited untill it flew off, I had a pin prick mark, but no itching, no swelling, well worth the wait lol. Pauline.

[ollyk]

I had a horsefly in my back garden tonight A first for me I live in the middle of a large town so I was quite surprised to say the least. Persistent b**ger went for the cat I think she new better lol.../
@paulinemiller10 i got bit once and the pain was excruciating! However no mark was left!

[roobarb]

Have tried the citronella and it seems to have worked!!
if you do get bitten try and get some hot water on the area as soon as poss. It denatures the enzymes they inject. The water has to be as hot as you can stand without scalding yourself.

[oncebittwicemad]

Anytime you go into horsefly territory (anywhere with water!) you need to cover up and/or use deet based jungle formula max strength - or face their wrath. I am a fisherman with 30 years worth of conflict with these blighters. I got bitten on my cheek bone yesterday because i forgot my trusty deet product and I look like I have been smacked by a night club bouncer. There is no environmentally sound wonder solution to this man v critter battle. Take the deet or take the bite. I even used a repellent used by Thai and Scottish sherrifs/military personnel (mozzyoff) to no effect. NB horseflies feed in my experience mostly by day and dusk, before the trusty bats come along and eat them !!