Not sure if this is the correct place....

[cmu]

Does anyone here know how to get rid of Yellow Flies? or what to use to ease the pain of there bites? I got attacked by yellow flies over the weekend (20 bites on my legs) and they are swollen, red and unbeilivably itchy....I have tried using alcahol on them but that only helps for about a second.....

Any suggestions?

[SewCrafty]

HTH and you get some nuch needed relief.

This is what I found: http://pherec.org/entguides/EntGuide1.html

CONTROL

Chemical:

Insecticidal control of "yellow flies" at their developmental sites is not recommended because the immature stages occur in wetlands that may harbor sensitive beneficial aquatic animals. To reduce adult flies resting on vegetation around the home, insecticides may be applied as a residual surface spray to the lower limbs of shade trees, shrubs and other vegetation. Products containing permethrin (Permanoneâ ), carbaryl (Sevinâ ) or malathion (Cythionâ ) have proven effective. These products can be purchased from local farm and garden stores. Outdoor aerosol sprays may also offer temporary relief; however, repeated applications are often required. Pressurized cans of permethrin-containing products are recommended. Resmethrin, pyrethrin, malathion, or naled (Dibromâ ) as applied via motorized hand-held, truck-mounted or aerial Ultra-Low-Volume (ULV) equipment may also be used. Insecticidal control is often short-lived because of the continual influx of flies from neighboring untreated areas. Some species of tabanids can travel 1-2 miles or more from their developmental sites.

Nonchemical:

Trapping methods that homeowners can use for reducing localized adult biting fly populations are available. One such method uses 20" diameter beach balls painted glossy black and treated with a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide (such as Permanoneâ ) or sticky tack trap substances [available under the product names, Tanglefoot Pest Barrierâ from Bozeman BioTech, Bozeman, MT (800) 289-6656 or Sticky Stuffâ from Olson Products, Inc., Medina, OH (216)-723-3210]. Treated balls are suspended from a metal rod, wooden rack or tree limb about 4 feet above ground so that they can move with the wind. The movement of a black object of this size has been reported to be highly attractive to many tabanids but not all species. Therefore, species recognition is important.

Vegetation management can also be employed. Removing underbrush around one's home eliminates fly resting sites and increases light levels making the area less attractive to flies.

Personal Protection:

Persons particularly sensitive to "yellow-fly" bites should consider the following fly avoidance recommendations.

· Major outdoor events should be planned to avoid the "yellow fly" season (especially May and June).

· Plan outings to avoid primary fly activity periods during the early morning and late afternoon/early evening hours.

· Avoid occupying shaded areas along forest canopies where flies occur in abundance during the day.

If you must work in areas where "yellow flies" occur in large numbers, it may be advisable to wear physical barriers such as a head net (obtained from Bug Out Outdoor Wear, P.O. Box 13451, Wauwatosa, WI 53213) and/or long sleeve shirts and long pants as a means of protection.

Commercial DEET (diethyl meta-toluamide) containing repellents, sold at most hardware and grocery stores under trade names such as Backwoods Cutterâ , Offâ , Ultrathonâ , Skintasticâ may deter biting flies. Although repellents are helpful, they may sometimes appear to have limited usefulness especially when several flies are attacking at the same time. Permethrin-containing products labelled for application only to clothing may be effective in repelling and killing "yellow flies". Coulston's Duranon Tick Repellentâ and Permanoneâ Tick Repellent are examples of such products. These containerized aerosol sprays can be found at specialty outdoor supply shops.

First Aid for Fly Bites

"Yellow-fly" bites are painful and may produce severe allergic reactions in some individuals. To lessen the itching associated with bites, a topical anesthetic such as benzocaine or lidocaine may be applied to the area. An antihistamine (for example, Benedrylâ or Caladrylâ ) or hydrocortisone (such as Calecortâ or Cortaidâ ) can also be used to reduce the inflammation. These materials are available over-the-counter, without a prescription, at most grocery and discount stores.