Yeah horse fly is the other name .. the bite is quite a slow process, so if you are alert enough you can usually get them first, plus .. thats one good thing about being on the sea as they dont go very far from the coast. One product Ive used as an anitdote to a bite is 'Stingose' .. ive usually got some in a kit bag somewhere, especially for the bairns. My wife was a great fan of a small electric clicker .. only a couple of quid on amazon, she swears by it for sting relief, but Ive no idea how or why they work.
We live a few hundred yards from a dairy farm, and there are quite a few of them about.
I keep an eye out for them in the summer, and as you say, they are quite slow, so are easy to splat if they land on you.
My wife also swears by the little electric click thingy to relieve bite itches, I dont normally bother as mozzies and midges either dont bite me, or i dont react
As you say out on the water you dont get a lot of problems unless you are real close to shore
If the midges & the clegs aren't enough I developed Lymes disease from two infected tick bites on Scotlands east coast about 3 years ago !!
Six weeks on some serious antibiotics sorted it hopefully............
Lyme disease is spread right across the UK, the south has plenty of cases, and it is getting worse.
There are plenty of areas where ticks are rife, as many places dont use sheep as "tick mops" anymore Ie put sheep out, get the ticks on the sheep and treat them. In the old days thats what sheep dip was for.
Aye .. Its a horrible thing for humans hope you get over that ok paddlers
On the subject of tick stuff for dogs .. my cocker took a terrible reaction to Advantix but is ok with frontline .. but it doesent stop her getting some odd ticks.. any
Breawatch
Ie put sheep out, get the ticks on the sheep and treat them. In the old days thats what sheep dip was for.
