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What's going on, either there are a LOT more clegs (horseflies) around this year or I've turned into some form of magnet. I expect to see them when out in the hills, near livestock etc, so getting attacked by an army of them last night whilst up the trails was expected. Fortunately, whilst bitten just once, my kill rate was good, taking out at least 5 of the persistent buggers. But, in our garden where I never see them, I had to fight off two yesterday in the space of 10 mins (again killed both). And, whilst at the school sports day where there were 300+ sweaty kids to pick from, I got nailed by a cleg again (killed that one too). Whilst there is immense satisfaction in killing them, I would much rather not have to display my ninja skills, which from a distance, must look pretty comical to those watching and not realising the foe that I am up against...
Where do you live ? Newer encountered one in North West or North Wales (unless you count my mate getting bitten in Gwydir - only one out of 6 of us - his involved hospital visit though).
My wife has a horse - she was chuntering rather a lot about them last night!
Noticed more this year too. One bit my granddaughter last weekend when we were in S. Lakes and I got bitten twice last night on the fog walk at a park in Darwen.
Newer encountered one in North West
You've been lucky!
Over the years I've found they are worse in hot, still weather.
We've had a lot of hot, still weather.
Yes, they are voracious this year. North West England. My wife's horses are suffering with them and so am I when I have to empty the muck barrows. Like you say the kill rate can be high but the one that gets you is bloody sore
i had one follow me riding last week. it kept up a decent pace (25kph-ish) for a while until I passed a group going the other way who obviously seemed easier pickings.
+1 on there are more due to our changing climate - warm and still weather = clegs.
I was bitten last night by one.
I was up on the hills above Bethesda (back of the Carneddau, basically) for a walk last Thursday; it was a hot day, so wearing shorts. The clegs were prolific on the lower slopes near Gerlan, and the only way to avoid getting bitten was to keep moving, preferably through longer grass to brush them off, and swat the ones that did land. Obviously there's an attendant risk of ticks in the longer vegetation. The score was roughly 15-0 to me
Zombies of the insect world. Relentless in their pursuit of human flesh and singularly unconcerned with with own survival.
I personally thank all those people who attract them, was out riding Wed evening and my two pals were being bombarded, I was alright. It's one of a few pluses of having a malfunctioning central heating system, not much sweat to attract them and my hands make a killer cold compress even in summer! A few people aroun us (in the North West) have commented on the increased number of them.
Mild winter, wet spring then a hot still spell is probably perfect conditions for horseflies, wasps and ticks. I'm not going outside until September.
The only thing I try to kill. I try and get wasps, ants, flies etc out of the house, or off me, gently…but not clegs. Nasty buggers and any bites I get itch and don’t heal for weeks.
I used to run summer canoe sessions for kids in an old quarry and they were rife there; I don’t miss that place at all!
Yup, utter bastards, got a bite on Wednesday and arm is just calming down now. I think a second bite might have finished me off all together 😕🙃
Loads of the bastards up in the Lakes. I think I'm some kind of magnet (they leave my wife alone!!!). Grrr.
scotroutes
Full Member
Over the years I’ve found they are worse in hot, still weather.We’ve had a lot of hot, still weather.
See also, swarms of black flies. Bloody horrible but at leas true don’t get bitey
Haven’t seen any this year so far, in N. Wiltshire.
Over the years I’ve found they are worse in hot, still weather.
We’ve had a lot of hot, still weather.
Whereas we've had lots of hot breezy weather and although I'm usually the cleg master I've been bite free so far
Horrible bastards.
Me and my partner of the time got bitten to **** and back one year whilst out walking. I healed quite quickly (I've had a lot of practice) but it took months and months for hers to fully clear up.
It's just a matter of time before I get bitten, then suffer days of swollen, hot, painful skin.
Carry around an antiseptic cream of sanitiser to rub on the bite the moment the flying horror beast bites.
They are attracted to black and will bite through clothing.
Fewer swallows, swifts and martins around this year to gobble them up.
There were loads of the little bitey bastids in north Pembrokeshire last week
They only work the day shift when the sun is out and it's hot, retire for the day for the midges to take over. Not sure what I prefer but I remember years ago unable to sort a puncture in Highland Perthshire with blood dripping from my legs and arms
I felt like Tam o Shanter coming off that hill with nae air in my tyre
Can we just spray the whole country with something to sort out clegs, keds, and midges?
Vietnam style but with some smart chemical that makes them hate the smell of humans.
South Wales, bit on Wed and then noticed loads of the wee bar stewards every time we stopped. Luckily I don't react to badly to the bits, but you know about the initial chomp
What are those small metal hemispheric things that people used to affix to the soles of their shoes? I thought this thread was about them but clearly not. 🙁
Warm humid weather equals midges.....
Hot dry weather equals clegs.....
Cold wet windy weather equals no insects just soggy clobber....
Had a horsefly in the French Alps one summer happily sawing through my gloves, it was about an inch long 😱
Recently read about these bitey buggers.....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_mosquito
Anyone know if they serve any useful purpose in the ecosystem. Wasps and hornets at least have some upside to their existence, but do horse flies do anything other than cause pain and suffering to other creatures?
Apparently some animals eat them
What are those small metal hemispheric things that people used to affix to the soles of their shoes? I thought this thread was about them but clearly not.
Suspect you're thinking of Segs (possibly Seggs)
Isn't segs that thing other folk do on a Saturday night?
Seggs was the singer in Madness I think
Nah that was Begs(ie) no?
I hate them. They are evil.
.....except when the wife is cutting the grass on the ride on mower and there's an angry could of them chasing her down. Then they are hilario.
I think the best method is to manouvre so they land on a body part where they're visible and accessible, then kill the barsteward!
S Wilts....quite a few around but tend to be single flies attacking at the moment.
I don't care of they are important pollinators, I still hate them!
I keep a tin of Zambuk ointment handy at this time of year. Dab a wee bit on as soon as I realise I've been got by one and it seems to get rid of the itchiness straight away.
Two were mating by our pond yesterday. I ran like the wind.