Insect bites

[chriszog]

Whilst digging on Monday I obviously disturbed a nest of something. My hands and forearms were covered in small biting Flies????? The bites are now swollen and very sore. About 6 on each arm, anyone any ideas what they could have been? they were brown and about 1 cm long.
Regards
Chriszog

[chriszog]

[redimp]

Do red ants fly at all during their life cycle?

[chriszog]

Hi clanger
Definatly not red ants. They appeared after the rain stopped and the sun came out.
Chriszog

[adrianhumph]

Hi chriszog,
                    Can`t help with identifying the insects, but for future use I have read many people raving about Avon dry oil body spray as a deterrent to insects. I have just bought 3 bottles of it , If you look up avon`s site you can buy it now at half price ,£2 a bottle instead of £4.

                                                   Adrian.

[jaggythistle]

  It works Adrian....anytime spent at stables... I always apply it before I go
  n you get some mean critters at a stable may I add  :o :o I tell the customers to use it as well.....and they always come back and say ty  ;D ;D

[Delilah]

Will try the Avon Dry Oil Body Spray - eldest daughter virtually lives at stables and is permanently bitten to bits, especially along forehead, she gets a little line of bites, think the little critter gets stuck in her riding hat and has itself a feast !!!!!!!!1

[huehueteotl]

Hi Chriszog,

Sounds to me like Horseflies.  I get bitten about three or four times a year. If you get bitten try taking an anti-histamine tablet as soon as possible, or use an anti-histamine cream after washing the area bitten.  This will take the pain away and help reduce the swelling. I usually raid the wife's hayfever tablets and they work for me.

This is a link to some pictures of Common Horsefly types;

http://www.gardensafari.net/english/picpages/haematopota_pluvialis.htm

, and if you want to read a good description of the little critters then look at;

http://www.gardensafari.net/english/remaining_flies.htm

They are topic number 4 on this page.

Hope this helps.