Prevention of horsefly bites ?

[mikehill]

I’ve been cutting hedges at work recently and had five bites in a week ! Culminating in this painful thing ..

I tried a jungle formula type repellent but it stank and did nothing ! What do you guys do ?

 

[Toddy]

I take anti histamines before I get bitten, and if I do, I take anti histamine and anti-inflammatories.

I carry an epi pen these days because of those bites, so I'm kind of wary.

I have found nothing that actively stops them biting. They'll eat their way through clothes to get to your flesh.
Deet, if you can find it in a decent strength, does kill them.....but so does a well aimed swipe, but you have to be aware of them to do that. They are sleekit little blighters and silent in flight.

Eurax cream really does help stop the itch. So does Antisan.

Sorry you're being afflicted with them just now. They say that every creature fills a necessary role in the scheme of things.....I cannot think of anything that these things bring to the table but their appetite, and honestly have a kill on sight policy for them.

 

[mikehill]

I was in hospital last year with them on a antibiotic iv drip and steroids … I too react badly to them. The doc then said take loratadine daily which I do. I’ll try some ibuprofen now and look for the creams you mention thanks.

 

[Toddy]

I just can't sympathise enough.
It's a horrendous reaction to such a simple thing, isn't it ? and it's a dirty bite too.

It would be a blessing to find something that stopped them from even thinking of biting us.

Someone suggested hanging up a waterballoon filled with rehydrated pigs blood (you can buy the dried stuff to make home made black puddings) to distract them, but I reckon that was just encouraging them to breed even more miseries.
Like the fellow who said just to let them feed if they land on you.
Hah ! No ! if I spot it on me, it's dead as fast as I can hit it. It's one less to lay eggs, I reckon.

M

 

[Oliver G]

Treat them like a dog, if a horsefly bites you pick it up and bite it's ear.

Jesting aside, marmite works well for dissuading them, I think it's the vitamin B12. That is to say you need to eat the marmite, not just slather it on as a repellent, though that would work to repel people too.

 

[mikehill]

Ewww Marmite ! A friend on another forum has recommended this so I’ll report back on its effectiveness

Barrier Super Plus Fly Gel 500ml

Barrier Hygiene Super Plus Fly Repellent Gel protects horses and ponies from flies, including midges, horse flies, and stable flies.

www.hyperdrug.co.uk

 

[Broch]

I've been plagued by the smaller cleggs all the time building the shepherds hut; I react with huge swellings and unbearable itching. I ended up having to use a 50% DEET repellent (natural ones didn't work) but found I only needed to use it in the afternoon when it got warmer.

 

[Toddy]

@mikehill
I eat marmite every day. Just had it with my breakfast and I still get bitten
Be aware of the Niacin (B3) histamine flush, if you're trying the B vitamin route. It's a scary reaction when not expected.

@Broch
Do you have a link to the DEET you found, please ?

 

[JonathanD]

I’ve found only DEET deals with those things. Luckily we don’t get many around us. I used to use Lifesystems when on expedition and it works well on horseflies here too.

DEET Repellents | Insect Repellents | Lifesystems

Choose from Lifesystems range of DEET Repellents to avoid insect and bug bites.

www.lifesystems.co.uk

 

[windz1000r]

Northern Forest Insect Repellent 15ml Tin

Northern Forest Insect Repellent 15ml Tin. Northern Forest Insect Repellent is a blend of natural products selected for their excellent properties as a r

www.woodland-ways.co.uk

I use this stuff well anything with pine tar in seams to help stop me getting bitten and I get bitten like mad

 

[Broch]

I’ve found only DEET deals with those things. Luckily we don’t get many around us. I used to use Lifesystems when on expedition and it works well on horseflies here too.

DEET Repellents | Insect Repellents | Lifesystems

Choose from Lifesystems range of DEET Repellents to avoid insect and bug bites.

www.lifesystems.co.uk

Yep, that's the stuff I use as well. I'll usually try a natural one or a DEET free one first and resort to 50% and, if necessary, 100% as circumstances dictate.

 

[JonathanD]

Northern Forest stuff is really good. I don’t need much more than that in the U.K. The natural Lifesystems and Pyramid repellants are great for everything U.K. too. I’ve not found them 100% against horseflies. Although, you do only notice the ones that bite you and not the ones that are repelled and I tend to apply it to only a few areas and not cover myself fully.

 

[Toddy]

I found none of the smokey or 'tar' ones worked at all. Not the soaps, the creams or the sprays. I even tried the stuff to wash into clothing, and that didn't stop them either.

I think the unfortunates among us are just vulnerable, or just too attractive to the blighters for some weird reason.

I prefer the natural routes to most things, and though the sweet gale/lemon balm/mugwort mix does help, if they're determined, it doesn't stop them.

 

[Kadushu]

I find a good dab of alcohol gets the swelling and itching down. I always carry some in my van for cleaning and fire lighting anyway. Can't really add anything to the repellant suggestions.

 

[xairbourne]

I had a bite on the back of my leg last week, bloody itching was driving me mad, I tried after bite and alcohol wipes but relief was short.
While looking in the medicine cabinet I spied some liquid skin, I thought I will give that a go.
So I painted over the bite area sealing it with liquid skin, the Itching stopped and swelling seamed to go down.
After that it didn't really bother me.
Now Im no scientist...but give it a go see if it helps you out on your next bite.

 

[Tony]

Wayland recently suggested second skin for after being bitten so there's a couple of testimonials now which is good.

I was expecting to get mashed by biting things at the Moot but for the first time ever I got away with just two not so bad bites , although I killed half a dozen horseflies.

I hate horseflies, they're the worst thing I can get nailed with, takes three weeks for the swelling to go down...

 

[Toddy]

I had a bite on the back of my leg last week, bloody itching may driving me mad, I tried after bite and alcohol wipes but relief was short.
While looking in the medicine cabinet I spied some liquid skin, I thought I will give that a go.
So I painted over the bite area sealing it with liquid skin, the Itching stopped and swelling seamed to go down.
After that it didn't really bother me.
Now Im no scientist...but give it a go see if it helps you out on your next bite.

It's got to be worth a try

 

[Wayland]

As mentioned above. I heard a suggestion to use nail polish to seal the bites of chiggers to stop the itching.

Didn't fancy the nail polish so I tried Germaline New Skin, which I normally carry for blister treatment, and it seems to stop the itching on a variety of bites.

Recommended it to a few people now and most have been impressed.

My go to bug dope is an equal mix of Beck Oil, Citronella Oil, Tea Tree Oil and Eucalyptus Oil which works quite well in general but not sure if it will work with cleggs. Haven't been bitten by one for a few years though.

 

[Nice65]

Equine supply stuff is worth a look. Working through thick undergrowth clearing power lines we used to get feasted on. We had a big spray bottle of something that we soaked ourselves with, it worked well.

 

[mikehill]

Managed to get a docs appointment tomorrow at 13-30. It’s got so bad if I try to clench my fist little dots of blood seep out the skin !