[Chris CW (aka Seedubs)]

Anyone else noticed a dramatic increase in house flies this year?  Not only are there many more than the last couple of years, they seem particularly agressive this year? I must admit I almost hate them as much as mozzies.

[Nigel Bolton]

The housefly (Kraponits Featus) has certainly made its presence felt this year, though in reality, no more than normal. There are often 'spikes' at this time of year w.r.t. numbers, and this may be an attribute to farmers putting slurry on their fields.

N.

[Dave W]

Not many round here I ve noticed.. but those there are seem big..

[Flatlander]

Quote

Nigel Bolton - 5/7/2010 21:30

The housefly (Kraponits Featus) has certainly made its presence felt this year, though in reality, no more than normal. There are often 'spikes' at this time of year w.r.t. numbers, and this may be an attribute to farmers putting slurry on their fields.

N.

I believe the official Latin name for Kraponits Featus is Calliphora Vomitoria. Not sure that is any better!

I've been annoyed by a fairly large number in the past week or two, mainly because we've been leaving patio doors open in the hot weather, and probably not because they are in any larger numbers than usual.

[Note, in reality there are many species of 'house fly' and they are quite hard to identify. Vomitoria is the official 'Bluebottle' but most of the ones you see won't be that]

[shadow]

These are quite good for getting rid of them pesky house flies :D

[Lightning Hunter]

Loads of the beggars at my partner's parents house in Devon. They normally have a few, due to the farms etc, but more so this year.

[John W]

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Dave W - 5/7/2010 21:33

Not many round here I ve noticed.. but those there are seem big..

Exactly the same here- I said to my wife earlier this evening that we seem to have more flies and they're huge-some with white stripes on their backs. I open the windows to get them out and then close them, saves a splatter on the walls if you swat them.

[Nigel Bolton]

There is a certain type of fly around outside which has a nasty habit of buzzing noisily around your head, very similar to the way an aggressive wasp does. It then lands on bare skin where it gives a painful bite. They are an absolute bugger if you are up a ladder holding a paint brush. I was bitten by several of these today.

These flies are about 1cm long, and quite narrow, and black in colour. The only redeeming thing about these flies. is they do not have the reflexes that house flys have, and once they have landed on you, they are very easy to swat.

Anyone any idea what these are?

N

[Dave W]

Yes the big flies we have seem rather docile & less agile than the smaller ones..

[Bazmundo]

Quote

Nigel Bolton - 7/7/2010 22:36

There is a certain type of fly around outside which has a nasty habit of buzzing noisily around your head, very similar to the way an aggressive wasp does. It then lands on bare skin where it gives a painful bite. They are an absolute bugger if you are up a ladder holding a paint brush. I was bitten by several of these today.

These flies are about 1cm long, and quite narrow, and black in colour. The only redeeming thing about these flies. is they do not have the reflexes that house flys have, and once they have landed on you, they are very easy to swat.

Anyone any idea what these are?

N

Apparently, persistent but slow enough to swat means it's a horsefly (Tabanidae). One of the few actual biting flies (as opposed to midges or mozzies), and thought-provokingly it's only the females that bite. :D

[Flatlander]

Yeah, there were loads of Horseflies about this evening on a walk round a local farm (not many livestock, either) - very annoying, but easy to swat. Oop noorth they are usually called 'Clegs'. Possibly our largest (true) fly?

In tropical climes, swarms of similar (related) species have been known to cause fatal blood loss in animals. Nice.