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And I really wish they didn’t!
It’s the female Horseflies that are the problem – they’re the biters, of humans, horses and other animals, to get the blood they need to aid egg production and, for some reason, they can smell my blood coming a mile away. I got several bites on my face during a recent fungi foray and had a nasty allergic reaction, was swollen and looked like I had some kind of infectious disease. Antihistamine meds don’t really agree with me, so I retreated from the world for a week till the worst of the swelling had gone down. (I got the bite in my photo four days ago. Luckily, Ms Horsefly was only on me for a second or two, before I noticed and flicked her off.)
The trouble for me is that Horseflies (a large and diverse group called the Tabanidae family, and also known by the common name of Cleg) are rather lovely creatures and they have the most incredible eyes, so I’m driven to capture photos of them (perhaps I’m a masochist!). The Horsefly in my photos is one of the Haematopota species. They have compound eyes that appear brightly coloured and have incredible patterns – from other photos I’ve seen, each creature seems to have a different pattern, much like fingerprints or retina patterns. So, I will continue to seek them out, just as they continue to seek me out!
earthstar 
Almost forgot the point here – great eye images!
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They do have amazing eyes! Thanks. 🙂
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Vicious beasties those female horseflies, sneaky too – the first you know about them being around is usually when they bite you on the back of the leg! A spray or oil blend with the essential oil Lemon Eucalyptus in it can help to repel insect biters.
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Thanks for the advice. I carry repellent with me on my walks now.
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Thankfully I’ve not (that I know of) been bitten by a horsefly, though we do get them here. But I’m also a source of food-delight to many other insects (and the occasional small spider). Unlike you, I have to take antihistamines, but I stick with the older type that has no stimulant effect and just put up with a bit of sleepiness. The horsefly’s eyes are fascinating, but I tend to avoid these small 6-leggeds.
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Friends are tellng me vitamin B1 tablets help to keep many of the flying beasties away, Val, so perhaps that’s something we could both try. 🙂
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Interesting idea. Thanks.
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You are not alone. I am like a magnet to insects and they don’t usually respond to a flick. I was on the Pembrokeshire coast last week and there were swarms of flying ants. There was I trying to get photos of a Fulmar but couldn’t because the ants were around my head and landing on me and my camera; I was frantic. My husband, only a short distance from me was clicking away like mad with not an ant to be seen anywhere near him.
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Oh, poor you, Joyce. I hope you managed to get some photos and those ants eventually buzzed off.
Frantic is right! I occasionally look like a mad woman, walking along muttering to myself and flinging my arms around trying to ward off the little critters. 😉
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On that instance I managed one mediocre shot of the Fulmar that was never to be seen again. However as we moved on the ants disappeared; it was as though they were only populating the absolute edge of the coastline.
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Better one shot than none! And I think the ants swarm near their nests, so perhaps that explains what you found.
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We all suffer for our art and knowledge. But I’m happy for you to do the suffering for me!
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Gee, thanks, Paul. 😉
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