Thread subject: Diptera.info :: More Bad Press For Diptera
Posted by Paul Beuk on 29-07-2010 11:04
#2
First the question: Why specifically MORE bad press? Did I miss previous incidents?
Second: We are clearly in the summer dip in news on offer. It happens every year with hot summers that insects are rampaging through our towns. If they are not the wasps it must be the biting bugs. The Blanford Fly spreading into towns and cities at a large scale seems improbable to me. I am no simuliid expert but AFAIK the larvae are restricted to clean, running water with stony (hard) sediment and that is not present all over the country. Water features in gardens usually are no long term habitats, especially if they find out that they harbour biting insects...
And, of course, there are more insect bites during the hot weather. First, insect populations increase more quickly with higher temperature; second, we spend more time outdoors so are more likely to be bitten; third, we leave our doors and windows open longer letting all kinds of creepy crawlies in, further increasing the risk to be bitten.
More infected bites? Of course: 20% (for example) more bites should lead a similar increase of cases of infections seen by GP's. Warm weather also increases the chance of infection as such and it makes us cover our skin less so scratching a bite is also more likely to lead to infection.
Posted by ChrisR on 29-07-2010 11:19
#3
I think you're preaching to the choir Paul - leave a comment on the website and see whether you can balance it out a bit :D
Posted by Paul Beuk on 29-07-2010 11:39
#4
LoL, I thought I was concise, but what can you really say in 1000 characters?
Posted by ChrisR on 29-07-2010 13:02
#5
Well, I was just meaning post something like that on the Daily Mail website ... they seem to accept comments but so far the only comments are people agreeing about how bad flies are :D
Posted by Roger Thomason on 29-07-2010 14:50
#6
I wouldn't worry about what is written in the Daily Mail. The readers of that newspaper aren't happy unless they have something to worry about. It's normally about hordes of illegal immigrants from Eastern Europe, Russian Mafia, Unions. You name it, some Little Englander has a gripe about it.
Anyone on here ever been bitten by a blackfly? I've seen and photographed a few, never been bitten....Midges...different story :S
Roger...AKA Mr.Angry from Tunbridge Wells (Armpit of the Western World)
Posted by Mark-uk on 29-07-2010 17:18
#7
You will get bitten by midges if you live north of the Border. Some think Hadrian's wall was built to keep the savage Scots at bay, but it was really put there to stop the Scottish midge coming south.:D
Posted by Susan R Walter on 29-07-2010 17:27
#8
Roger - I've been bitten by them 3 times in the last few weeks. It's painful, unattractive and itchy, but I use a good antihistamine cream with a skin numbing ingredient and have survived the experience without having to bother my local hospital :|
Posted by Roger Thomason on 29-07-2010 22:23
#9
Susan R Walter wrote:
Roger - I've been bitten by them 3 times in the last few weeks. It's painful, unattractive and itchy, but I use a good antihistamine cream with a skin numbing ingredient and have survived the experience without having to bother my local hospital :|
Hmm...Wonder how the Blackfly felt...I think we should be told..:D
Posted by Susan R Walter on 30-07-2010 09:16
#10
Well, the last two are feeling nothing at all now!
Posted by Roger Thomason on 30-07-2010 10:03
#11
Susan R Walter wrote:
Well, the last two are feeling nothing at all now!
I leave it to the female in this photo to pass on her regards....;)
Posted by viktor j nilsson on 30-07-2010 15:28
#12
Susan R Walter wrote:
Roger - I've been bitten by them 3 times in the last few weeks. It's painful, unattractive and itchy, but I use a good antihistamine cream with a skin numbing ingredient and have survived the experience without having to bother my local hospital :|
Oh my oh my, people. You can COUNT the number of bites? Yikes, welcome up north...
Posted by Susan R Walter on 31-07-2010 20:37
#13
Roger :P
Viktor: I know, terribly soft country, not at all like outback Australia, where I grew up :D