What is this horrible Beast!!!

[LIFERBABE]

the most awful biting creature on the planet!!
What will repel them, they are all over WDW! Having a great time but I have never run across these biting flies and the leave itchy swelling marks!

So far have been bitten at BCV AKV K&J DTD and SSR. Heard they are really bad at FW.

[/IMG]

 

[DebbieB]

I got a bunch of fly bites above by ankle at FW last June. I still have small marks, they are fading slowly. They did itch something awful for about a week.

 

[BobNed]

the most awful biting creature on the planet!!
What will repel them, they are all over WDW! Having a great time but I have never run across these biting flies and the leave itchy swelling marks!

So far have been bitten at BCV AKV K&J DTD and SSR. Heard they are really bad at FW.

They drove us crazy at the THV a couple weeks ago. I just did some digging and found this (probably way more than you ever wanted to know):

In Florida, the name "yellow fly" is commonly used to describe a group of about a dozen different yellow-bodied biting flies in the Tabanidae family. However, Florida tabanid experts recognize only one species, Diachlorus ferrugatus (Fabricius), as the "true" yellow fly. (Cilek 2000a). In Belize this species is known as the "doctor fly."

The female is one of the most serious biting fly pests wherever it occurs (males do not bite). It attacks man vigorously, and the bites usually are painful, causing large and persistently itching swellings in many persons. Although it attacks throughout the day, it is most active during the late afternoon and on cloudy days. It is especially common near large bodies of water, but tends to remain in or near forests, seldom attacking in numbers far from the shelter of trees. It is one of the few tabanids which attacks indoors. All exposed parts of the victim's body may be attacked, and since the flight is rather quiet, a person is not aware of the flies until the sharp pain of the bite is felt.

Unfortunately, nothing seems to work to repel them. One site suggested trying Burt's Bees Natural Herbal Insect Repellent.

 

[bwvBound]

Oh, curious critter. Any chance you might get a better photo using the macro feature on your camera? (If your camera is a point'n'shoot variety -- it may have an icon of a flower used for close-up or macro work.)

 

[LIFERBABE]

Unfortunately, nothing seems to work to repel them. One site suggested trying Burt's Bees Natural Herbal Insect Repellent.[/QUOTE]

So the DEep Woods Off I just purchased will not work?

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

I would suggest Deeps Woods Off - it repels pretty much everything...and citronella candles.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Unfortunately, nothing seems to work to repel them. One site suggested trying Burt's Bees Natural Herbal Insect Repellent.

So the DEep Woods Off I just purchased will not work?[/QUOTE]

Thank you Ned for all the great info!! I may have to go offsite to get the BB repellant.

I took the photo with my 3g and I was shaking because I thought do not want to get bit again!!

These flies must have heard that Disney was offering free dining again! Lol!!

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

So the DEep Woods Off I just purchased will not work?

Thank you Ned for all the great info!! I may have to go offsite to get the BB repellant.

I took the photo with my 3g and I was shaking because I thought do not want to get bit again!!

These flies must have heard that Disney was offering free dining again! Lol!!

[/QUOTE]

 

[BobNed]

On the University of Florida Web site they say products with DEET (like the Deep Woods Off) may be somewhat effective. Good luck!

 

[Sammie]

That would be yellow flies, usually only found at the beach. I guess the oil moved them to Disney World.

 

[vicki_c]

I even lived in central coastal FL for a few years and I don't think I ever saw one of those. Thankfully. Just love bugs!

 

[spiceycat]

sorry you are being bothered by these things.

my friend was talking about these bugs and I say they did not go to the Orlando area - well guess what they have arrived.

says large area of water and forest will attract them.

 

[DebbieB]

These flies must have heard that Disney was offering free dining again! Lol!!

Of course, free dining gets blamed for everything!

 

[Disneypirate85]

Of course, free dining gets blamed for everything!

YES it does seem to doesn't it? Shawn

 

[JimMIA]

On the University of Florida Web site they say products with DEET (like the Deep Woods Off) may be somewhat effective. Good luck!

We don't have these little colorful beauties in the Everglades, but we certainly have horseflies and deer flies. As a matter of fact, it is officially "Biting Fly Season" right now and will be until about September.

My experience with biting flies is that UF is on the right track...but they might be a little optimistic. At least with our biting flies, insect repellents seem to attract them as much as they deter them.

My normal response is to wear nothing except at night during fly season. [ETA: speaking only of repellant, of course!]

 

[BobNed]

My normal response is to wear nothing except at night during fly season. [ETA: speaking only of repellant, of course!]

Darn - you edited before I could make a smart-a** reply

 

[disneychic]

I even lived in central coastal FL for a few years and I don't think I ever saw one of those. Thankfully. Just love bugs!

Me too! We lived in Central Florida for 8 years -- moved to Maine last August for DH's job....I've never seen those EVER!

What's the scoop on them? Are they a seasonal thing like love bugs

 

[hellerjw]

They look a lot like deer flys, a nasty insect that leaves painful bites. You tend to find them in damp or heavily wooded places. I don't think there is any known repellant that works effectively on them for any significant length of time. I would be willing to bet these guys are related.

 

[JimMIA]

Darn - you edited before I could make a smart-a** reply

Not my first DIS rodeo...

 

[ccigliano]

These flies must have heard that Disney was offering free dining again! Lol!!

LC was booked so they thought they'd have a better chance at getting a ressie at the resort restaurants.