Where are the insects this year ?

[Headers]

I have been collecting blackberries for a couple of weeks now. No more than a handful of maggots in the approx 10kg Ive got. It’s the same story with our plums. The biggest harvest I’ve ever had and not one maggoty one.

[Quiksilver]

Some can give quite nasty bites.

Same here. Those horse flies are really dangerous and their bite is extremely painful. Once they have found you, they will zoom all around you, then hover beside you and often stay in one position staring at you, waiting for the opportunity to dive in for a meal. Next to impossible to swat and kill them. I've seen them fly full force into the glass terrace doors and not be phased.

They're pretty intelligent, though. They know exactly what an aerosol is and tend to disappear when one is brandished meaningfully in their direction. I keep a flyspray in the drinks holder on the ride-on and a small can of repellent in my pocket when weeding...no more hassle

[Bayleaf]

Horseflies are also pretty slow - once they've landed on the horse, they seem hellbent on getting a good portion of horseblood. This can drive a horse nuts, but as a rider having the advantage of attack from above, I have great satisfaction in being able to reach and smack the little bastards and squishing them. One time out riding, much to the hilarity of my fellow riders, I took a giant fly swat ...

flyswat2.jpg

[Lori]

Good for you Bayleaf - and the horse. But, doesn't the horse dislike being swatted ? I mean, I presume the horse doesn't know the swat is protecting him/her?

The horse fly is another one of the earth's creatures that I think we could do without. That and moles.

[Hotrodder]

And lazy estate agents.

[Bayleaf]

Good for you Bayleaf - and the horse. But, doesn't the horse dislike being swatted ? I mean, I presume the horse doesn't know the swat is protecting him/her?

Lori, with that (very ancient and fragile!) swat, it was more of a swipe than a smack. If I use my hand, it's a slap and grab and if that stops the infuriating biting sensation, I think my long-suffering steed, George, accepts it. He's fairly used to my nonsense now!

The other riders were trying to disown me by walking behind at this point!

[Bayleaf]

And lazy estate agents.

Lazy, and usually lying estate agents!

[Quiksilver]

How do they react to being swatted?

[Bayleaf]

How do they react to being swatted?

The flies, horses or estate agents? Flies die quickly, squished between my fingers! Horses will "swat" themselves quite violently with a rapid head movement to remove a biting critter - woe betide if I'm in the way of donkey trying to swat something on his tummy - he'd probably knock me out! I think a hand slap to do the job for them (especially if it's somewhere they can't reach) is welcomed.

Don't get me started on crab flies - what even is the purpose of these infuriating bugs?