Every year round the end of February-beginning of March for about 4 weeks we get those blasted biting march flies.
This happens when the Tuart and Gum trees blossom without fail, every year.
This year we had little to no march flies at all, just as we had no blossoms on the native trees as well.
Now a old local has told me that it is going to be a dry winter cos the trees never blossomed.
Apparently the march flies lay their eggs in the blossom and if they don't flower, the eggs don't mature and hatch.
But we need rain, is the lack of march flies an indication of a dry winter ahead?
Now all you bushmen and women out there, can you verify or bust the myth.
Another thing with march flies, don't whack them on your leg or arms, the scent only attracts others.
mezza56 said
06:17 PM Apr 5, 2019
They were all in tassie on holiday
JeffRae said
06:23 PM Apr 5, 2019
They were still down in Shannon National Park. Interesting fact about squishing them.
elliemike said
12:47 AM Apr 6, 2019
A few of my friends are WA farmers, they told me years ago to let em settle (on you) then count 1-2-3-4-5 and whack them. Seems to work.
A few of them actually get up and fly away, after looking dead on the ground.
Snippy said
07:46 AM Apr 6, 2019
Got a serious infection last year. The bite kept on bleeding then started to go black and started to swell.
Treated at Winton hospital with antibiotics. Surgeon said if it was not treated it could have become septic.
Nasty little buggers. (The fly that is, not the surgeon)
rockylizard said
08:48 AM Apr 6, 2019
Gday...
Interesting Bob ... down here in Victoria, I have known March Flies (often called Horse flies) to be around most of the year.
I understand there are about 400 different species of March fly in Australia.
March flies are most active in daylight during the warmer months, particularly on calm, sunny days.
In the tropics, they may continue to be active through the drier winter months.
Nasty 'bite' too I gotta agree. However, I have not heard about the squishing of them would attract more.
I had always been told they are attracted to the colour blue ... but not too sure about that in actuality either.
Cheers - John
Possum3 said
10:30 AM Apr 6, 2019
Heaps of them around at the moment in Southern Highlands through to Bathurst.
Did you know that Boeing used them to model the 747's?
Seriously they sting like 8uggery and know when you've got your hands full. They really are attracted to the Child-Bride they get her through denim jeans and she really welts up something shocking. I don't think that anyone has come up with anything better than Deet as a deterrent.
Bobdown said
10:32 AM Apr 6, 2019
rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
Interesting Bob ... down here in Victoria, I have known March Flies (often called Horse flies) to be around most of the year.
I understand there are about 400 different species of March fly in Australia.
March flies are most active in daylight during the warmer months, particularly on calm, sunny days.
In the tropics, they may continue to be active through the drier winter months.
Nasty 'bite' too I gotta agree. However, I have not heard about the squishing of them would attract more.
I had always been told they are attracted to the colour blue ... but not too sure about that in actuality either.
Cheers - John
Jack and Bob were sitting around one arvo having a beer, and it was decided to test the squishing theory, Jack smacked them while Bob didn't.
Jack had a pile of about 20 dead ones at his feet while Bob had just waved them away, definitely works, try it for yourselves.
What about the Rain theory?
Cheers Bob
hako said
06:47 PM Apr 6, 2019
Look forward to less and less of all insects varieties as we remove them from this planet courtesy of deforestation, mono-culture and our wonderful chemicals industry. Have you noticed less and less insects blocking your radiator as the years go by?
Good Luck.
Dougwe said
09:02 PM Apr 6, 2019
We won't have to worry about March flies for another 12 months cos it's now April
Well someone had ta say it
Warren-Pat_01 said
11:07 PM Apr 6, 2019
Here in the tropics, they are known as Marsh Flies - but they still bite the same & often through clothing.
I actually call some of them Marsh "walks" as that is what they do after they land on me - with one wing removed. On a bird watching trip a little Eastern Yellow robin thought all of his Christmases had come at once as all these flies were walking around on the ground below his tree!
I hope none of you people are members of PETA or the RSPCA!
landy said
10:20 PM Apr 7, 2019
They do seem to be attracted to darker colors we change to wearing orange clothing in the garden when they are around and it seems to be very effective. Landy.
dieseltojo said
08:39 PM Apr 8, 2019
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
Here in the tropics, they are known as Marsh Flies - but they still bite the same & often through clothing.
I actually call some of them Marsh "walks" as that is what they do after they land on me - with one wing removed. On a bird watching trip a little Eastern Yellow robin thought all of his Christmases had come at once as all these flies were walking around on the ground below his tree!
I hope none of you people are members of PETA or the RSPCA!
The reason they are called Marsh flies is that "march flies" are a figment of some writers collective imaginations; and probably a lack of knowledge.
March hare's though are very real.....
rockylizard said
08:45 PM Apr 8, 2019
dieseltojo wrote:
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
Here in the tropics, they are known as Marsh Flies - but they still bite the same & often through clothing.
I actually call some of them Marsh "walks" as that is what they do after they land on me - with one wing removed. On a bird watching trip a little Eastern Yellow robin thought all of his Christmases had come at once as all these flies were walking around on the ground below his tree!
I hope none of you people are members of PETA or the RSPCA!
The reason they are called Marsh flies is that "march flies" are a figment of some writers collective imaginations; and probably a lack of knowledge.
In the past I've done a load of bushwalking and cycle touring and have discovered the way to minimise march fly bites.
Do not wear anything that's any shade of blue. More specifically anything that reflects strongly in the ultraviolet - blue, purple, etc. Think about mixing paint and if you reckon that you'd need a bit of blue to get the colour then don't wear it. This includes most black fabric and some dark greens.
Use LOTS of Bushmans insect repellent in the brown can. Thick clothes don't help - they can bite through most clothing.
Remember that the buggers don't bite because they're hungry. The bite because they know it causes PAIN.
Baggy Bums said
02:32 PM Apr 12, 2019
Oh I wish not wearing blue worked. They eat me alive and I never wear blues, purples etc, Im a yellow, orange spectrum female. One bite and as well as the pain my neck glands swell. Ive also found all flies and mozzies love Deet, I think they lick it off, smoke from fires and pretty much everything else Ive tried.
markf said
10:58 AM Apr 13, 2019
It works for me - it doesn't eliminate bites, it only minimises them . An old mate of mine is in the same boat as you - any insect that bites went straight for him no matter what. I remember one trip with him through the Victorian High Plains he was like a walking windmill.
Baggy Bums said
12:38 PM Apr 13, 2019
Its why we get invited to every event, keeps them off everyone else lol
Extraordinary Rendition said
05:11 PM Apr 13, 2019
Yes you have to be paying attention to thier landing gear making contact with your skin. From there on in they are like a washing machine in thier intelligence that they forget about flying ,lower on down just ready to take a munch but the monkey counted to five and kills the creature. I havent tried Desert Dwellers on March Flies ... and to be honest i am happy to just control them mano wise.
Every year round the end of February-beginning of March for about 4 weeks we get those blasted biting march flies.
This happens when the Tuart and Gum trees blossom without fail, every year.
This year we had little to no march flies at all, just as we had no blossoms on the native trees as well.
Now a old local has told me that it is going to be a dry winter cos the trees never blossomed.
Apparently the march flies lay their eggs in the blossom and if they don't flower, the eggs don't mature and hatch.
But we need rain, is the lack of march flies an indication of a dry winter ahead?
Now all you bushmen and women out there, can you verify or bust the myth.
Another thing with march flies, don't whack them on your leg or arms, the scent only attracts others.
They were all in tassie on holiday
A few of my friends are WA farmers, they told me years ago to let em settle (on you) then count 1-2-3-4-5 and whack them. Seems to work.
A few of them actually get up and fly away, after looking dead on the ground.
Treated at Winton hospital with antibiotics. Surgeon said if it was not treated it could have become septic.
Nasty little buggers. (The fly that is, not the surgeon)
Gday...
Interesting Bob ... down here in Victoria, I have known March Flies (often called Horse flies) to be around most of the year.
I understand there are about 400 different species of March fly in Australia.
March flies are most active in daylight during the warmer months, particularly on calm, sunny days.
In the tropics, they may continue to be active through the drier winter months.
Nasty 'bite' too I gotta agree. However, I have not heard about the squishing of them would attract more.
I had always been told they are attracted to the colour blue ... but not too sure about that in actuality either.
Cheers - John
Did you know that Boeing used them to model the 747's?
Seriously they sting like 8uggery and know when you've got your hands full. They really are attracted to the Child-Bride they get her through denim jeans and she really welts up something shocking. I don't think that anyone has come up with anything better than Deet as a deterrent.
Jack and Bob were sitting around one arvo having a beer, and it was decided to test the squishing theory, Jack smacked them while Bob didn't.
Jack had a pile of about 20 dead ones at his feet while Bob had just waved them away, definitely works, try it for yourselves.
What about the Rain theory?
Cheers Bob
Good Luck.
We won't have to worry about March flies for another 12 months cos it's now April
Well someone had ta say it
I actually call some of them Marsh "walks" as that is what they do after they land on me - with one wing removed. On a bird watching trip a little Eastern Yellow robin thought all of his Christmases had come at once as all these flies were walking around on the ground below his tree!
I hope none of you people are members of PETA or the RSPCA!
The reason they are called Marsh flies is that "march flies" are a figment of some writers collective imaginations; and probably a lack of knowledge.
March hare's though are very real.....
Gday...
http://medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/biting%20flies.htm
Cheers - John
In the past I've done a load of bushwalking and cycle touring and have discovered the way to minimise march fly bites.
Do not wear anything that's any shade of blue. More specifically anything that reflects strongly in the ultraviolet - blue, purple, etc. Think about mixing paint and if you reckon that you'd need a bit of blue to get the colour then don't wear it. This includes most black fabric and some dark greens.
Use LOTS of Bushmans insect repellent in the brown can. Thick clothes don't help - they can bite through most clothing.
Remember that the buggers don't bite because they're hungry. The bite because they know it causes PAIN.
It works for me - it doesn't eliminate bites, it only minimises them
. An old mate of mine is in the same boat as you - any insect that bites went straight for him no matter what. I remember one trip with him through the Victorian High Plains he was like a walking windmill.