trees 2 Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Well probably NOT houseflies then, but certainly look just like them.[:@]We seemed to have LOADS this year. South 87. They land on you just like a fly does, and as you are preparing to swat them, you get a pain like someone touched you with a white hot needle!I've also killed them on the windows inside with a fly swatter, to find a HUGE smear of what appears to be blood[+o(]What are they? They don't look like any species of horsefly I've come across either. Someone suggested "Bot-flies" but I don't know........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Taons or horseflies http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1387184/ShowPost.aspx ?http://images.google.fr/images?hl=fr&q=taon&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Sorry, this is a bit disgusting[+o(] but I have seen, or rather felt, a large housefly attach itself to an open wound on my leg. Naturally I knocked it off and covered the wound. But it was having a meal. Yuck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Yes Puzzled the bog standard french house flies do bite, it was something that amazed us when we first moved here. They nip but don't leave any mark or reaction. We used to have a Gite and guests often complained about fleas. We explained it was flies and from look on their faces I'm sure they didn't believe us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betoulle Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 if you have deer nearby more likely to be a deerfly - you get a swelling next day followed by a blister which itches like hell....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Many thanks Betoulle for information re the deerfly. Have just had for the last week the most unbelievable itchy bites with blisters. Even kept me awake for a couple of nights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trees 2 Posted September 6, 2008 Author Share Posted September 6, 2008 [quote user="Cat"]Taons or horseflies http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1387184/ShowPost.aspx ?http://images.google.fr/images?hl=fr&q=taon&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi[/quote]Doesn't look like any of those pics, they are a little smaller than a large housefly, (NOT a bluebottle), and as mentioned by Poppy, they settle, then there is a REALLY sharp pain, but no mark, no resulting itch, pain, raised area, nothing.The pain is enough to make you jump, and exclaim, but leaves no lasting pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Yes that's the blighter, probably a bit smaller than average house fly. Forgot about the dots but yes they are definitely spotty, have had a quick Google and come across the 'stable fly' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 So pleased the mystery has been solved. Well done Puzzled on catching the biter so that it could be identified.I know people do not believe me when I tell them the flies bite [blink] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trees 2 Posted September 7, 2008 Author Share Posted September 7, 2008 That's the blighter, a sort of buff coloured abdomen, and the ones I've seen are flatter across the abdomen, maybe not gorged?They certainly bite MY lower legs, when I wear shorts.Could be something to do with living near a farm with cows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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