I was out walking my dogs today, and everything was going fine. But about halfway through the walk, I found myself dealing with a voracious parasite. If you live in the central Florida area, you know about the yellow biting flies. Today we’re going to go over what they are, what they do, and if there’s anything you can do to stop them.
Yellow Biting Flies: The Basics.
In the sunshine state, the name yellow fly is used to describe a group of about a dozen different yellow biting flies. However, experts recognize only one species known as the fabrics as the true yellow fly. The yellow fly is a strong, silent flier that can be buzzing around you and on your skin before you can blink an eye and realize what’s happening. They’re fierce biters as well. And like mosquitoes, it is the female fly that is responsible for most of the bites.
These buzzing parasites are some of the most voracious biters wherever you find them. It attacks humans vigorously, and the bites are painful. When you do get bit, it tends to leave large and itchy swellings in its wake. And although it will attack you in broad daylight, it’s most active during the late afternoon. This also goes for cloudy weather. They’re more common near bodies of water and remain near or in forests. It’s one of few flying parasites that will also chase you indoors. They go for any exposed part of your body. But since they’re relatively silent fliers, you tend not to notice them until you feel the pain of your bite. The peak season for these horrible little creatures is April through June.
What Can You Do?
Unfortunately, there’s no one hundred percent method for keeping these flies off of you and your property. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consult with a pest control specialist and discuss your options. This goes double if you can find one that specializes in natural methods since chemical pest control’s safety is often called into question.
