I can't quite explain to those of you that have never experienced a yellow fly how horrible these biting flies actually are. They are silent warriors - you don't hear a buzz of their wings - so they sneak up on you. They are vicious predators - little kamikazes - and relentlessly dive bomb at you, usually toward your head and typically in a small pack.
The absolute torture, though, is the bite of the yellow fly. My toes and fingers have blown up to the size of small sausages. When they bite you, you can feel their venom spreading out and the swelling take place. And the itch - the itch is like no other insect bite itch I've experienced. It is a torturous feels-so-good-but-hurts-so-bad itch. It gets so intense for me at times that I have actually scratched the top layer of skin off in my sleep before.
If you get bit, here are some things that may help (they have helped me):
- Do anything you can to prevent yourself from itching right after being bit. I have figured out that if I don't itch right after I've initially been bit, the bite doesn't swell that much and the itching actually disappears much quicker. Ice, hydrocortisone cream, wine ... they all help. YES, I know, this is an excruciatingly difficult thing to do! The alternative is you could develop elephantitis of the affected area - do you want that??
- If you are able to (you don't have an allergy to or some other health issue), you could try an oral antihistamine as I've heard from friends they help. I don't tolerate them well so I stick to the topical creams and sprays which work well for me. As with all medications, you should consult your doctor if you have questions and/or doubt.
- Some people are just highly allergic or develop severe reactions to the bite of a yellow fly. If you are experiencing disturbing symptoms - like trouble breathing or scary amounts of swelling - get to your doctor or nearest ER right away. Better sometimes to be safe than sorry, you know?
Knowledge is power so I've read up on my enemy to refresh myself on how to deal with the impending battle. There are preventative measures you can take - hanging black sticky balls in your yard, wearing light colored clothing, long sleeves and pants (and a face net?) when out at dawn and dusk, their peak time of feeding activity, staying away from shaded areas in swampy/wet environs, and wearing DEET-based bug sprays. For those of you with interest, I have compiled some interesting facts below on the yellow fly and links to some informative websites. Enjoy and ... good luck!
From the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services ...
- In Florida, the name "yellow fly" is commonly used to describe a group of about a dozen different yellow-bodied biting flies in the Tabanidae family. However, Florida tabanid experts recognize only one species, Diachlorus ferrugatus (Fabricius), as the "true" yellow fly. (Cilek 2000a). In Belize this species is known as the "doctor fly."
- The female is one of the most serious biting fly pests wherever it occurs (males do not bite). It attacks man vigorously, and the bites usually are painful, causing large and persistently itching swellings in many persons. Although it attacks throughout the day, it is most active during the late afternoon and on cloudy days. It is especially common near large bodies of water, but tends to remain in or near forests, seldom attacking in numbers far from the shelter of trees. It is one of the few tabanids which attacks indoors. All exposed parts of the victim's body may be attacked, and since the flight is rather quiet, a person is not aware of the flies until the sharp pain of the bite is felt. Domestic animals, including dogs, are attacked readily, although the fly's preference for shade makes it less of a pest to cattle and horses in open pastures. Flies are on the wing in Florida from March to November, although the peak season is April through June.
From the South Walton Mosquito Control District website...
- “Yellow flies” prefer to attack man about the head, neck or shoulders, however, any exposed part of the body may be attacked.
- Personal protective measures include the use of repellants containing DEET (diethyl metatoluamide) applied to exposed skin. Wearing physical barriers such as a head net, long sleeve shirts and long pants are effective protection if you must be out in areas where “yellow fly” populations are high. Permethrin containing products labeled for application to clothing only, can also be effective in repelling and killing “yellow flies”. Thankfully, “yellow fly” season is relatively short, one maybe two months, and then mosquitoes become our major pest.
- A trapping method homeowners can use, which does not involve the use of pesticides, is called the “sticky black ball” trap. Basically it is a beach ball, painted black and coated with a sticky substance. These devices are hung from a tree limb using string, in a shaded area, about 4 feet above the ground. Movement of the ball by the wind attracts the flies, thinking it is an animal, they land, get stuck, and die on the ball. Several of these balls will reduce the local adult populations. In the South Walton Mosquito Control District, we will provide a ball and instructions so a resident can make more if he or she feels they are effective for their situation.
How to build a yellow fly trap
Listen to NPR's All Things Considered discussion of Yellow Flies, July 17, 2006 · Commentator John Fleming says that the only thing fighting over-development in the Florida panhandle is the yellow fly. John Fleming, editor at large for The Anniston Star, is an Alicia Patterson fellow.
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