Getting bites from tiny black flies

[Ms Blueberry]

Has anyone else been suffering recently from mosquito-like bites, in the house? I've killed a couple of tiny black flies - similar in size to a fruit fly but with larger wings.

[Louisa]

It's called a Horse Fly and this has been a good summee for them, hence large numbers. They've been known to kill people who have a severe reaction, obviously a tiny tiny minority. At best they leave a nasty bite which can swell up.

Louisa.

[Reg Smeeton]

Surely a horsefly inside the house is unusual. I had a mosquito buzzing high-pitchedly around my head in bed the other evening as i tried to get to sleep, can't remember the last time I heard one of those indoors at night in London, I'm going to guess that was the source of your bites.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Oh yes ! Had lots in the house ! I assumed it was a fruit fly and have been storing fruits in fridge and making sure plug holes are covered .

Whatever they are they like biting my poor child .

[Girl82]

Yuck :( I haven't had any sign of them in SE15. Had loads during the warmer weather in July/August though!

[woodrot]

Teh Blandford fly was around this summer- big swellings when you get bit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blandford_fly

http://www.webmd.boots.com/travel/blandford-fly-bite-symptoms

[mynamehere]

My ankles were covered with these bites a few days back. The worst I've had in years

[Voyageur]

Blandford fly sounds about right. They certainly don't sound like horse flies which are nasty big buggers!

http://www.horseandcountry.tv/sites/default/files/imagecache/640x360/images/content/horsefly.jpeg

[Annette Curtain]

Photo's please, my son's been bitten by something this week

Only 'the golden' one tho, teen boy's been missed out

[Ms Blueberry]

Thanks for your responses. Sorry to hear of other victims. I'll try to catch one to determine if it's the Blandford fly which I think is the most likely suspect. I've only caught sight of one or two, not unlike having the odd fruit fly buzzing about after buying bananas. It's hard to believe that so few blighters can cause so many big bites. I'm considering breaking out the holiday bug juice. But living in ED is like being on holiday anyway.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

The flies didn't look like that , it was small but the end half of its body is red, yuk!

[Voyageur]

Blandford Fly:

http://ancienttofuture.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/blanfrod_fly.jpg

[rgutsell]

At the risk of turning up on pseuds or pedants corner;

Flies do not bite. (I once worked as an entymologist....I should know)

Flies lower their proboscis onto the skin to sense if there is anything worth having; if there is, they exude acid and begin externally digesting acid/food mix and sucking up the resultant soup. For an excellent cinematic presentatin of this, see " The Fly", modern version.

On the other hand, mosquitoes and others pierce your skin, with modified cutting mouthparts...they bite ( or more accurately, drill) into you.

There you are; Im off to get a life

R Gutsell