Say "Hello" to our little friend.....

[Selkie]

Tea Tree oil also helps keep biting things away. Hopefully it works with the little yellow bastages. I usually add a little to my bath water and I have noticed a BIG decrease in flying critters biting me.

 

[scooterbug44]

I hate the puckers! Kill them all! :angry:

Ice and/or Benadryl (do not take this if you have any alcohol in your system) depending on how much you react, and a topical anti-itch cream with hydro-cortisone works for me.

And by "works" I mean it keeps the swelling bearable and the size of a quarter instead of a plum or apple. Most evil bug ever and the bane of my existence!

 

[ChillPill]

Thanks for all of the good advice! I bought a few items and the swelling is going down. As long as I keep this Caladryl topical lotion on it, it keeps the relentless itching at bay too. These bugs are mean and out in force!! Grrrrr.

 

[Douglas the Intrepid]

Thanks for all of the good advice! I bought a few items and the swelling is going down. As long as I keep this Caladryl topical lotion on it, it keeps the relentless itching at bay too. These bugs are mean and out in force!! Grrrrr.

Start carrying your swiffer with you and you should be fine! Also, I hear an extract of rose petals in the proper potion base can work wonders! ;-)

 

[Teresa]

cactus juice doesn't work for me. not for mosquitoes and not for yellow flies. I have never found a thing that keeps the yellow flies away or off - haven't tried tea oil though. fortunately for me they don't like to bite me much (but when they do its such pain for quite a few days)- but they do swarm like crazy which makes a walk in Pt Washington nearly impossible when they are out. just walking back and forth from the house to the car is a frenzy of attack flies! they are big and they don't mind tackling you. fortunately they aren't out for too long (a few weeks or so?) but they are definitely out with a vengeance these days!

Yellow flies are hideous! I have a big brass yellow fly on my porch for decor' given to me by a friend who visited here once and experienced the Pt Washington yellow fly bombardment.

I have actually tried rubbing myself down with dryer softener sheets as suggested by someone around here - I don't think it slowed down the swarming action but I didn't have bites. also, wearing long sleeves and pants helps but dang its too hot.

 

[Lynnie]

Are they really bad this year? Or, mild like the last couple of years? Don't wear black~~~~~

 

[Franny]

Are they really bad this year? Or, mild like the last couple of years? Don't wear black~~~~~

Lynnie, they are worse than bad. I have never seen them swarm like they are doing this year. You have to run, swipe, duck just to get to the car. I did observe the beautiful dragonflies making a meal of them yesterday!

 

[Jdarg]

OMG Toots- I just walked Kate out to her morning carpool ride and you are right! Swarm! They swarmed around me- I was frantically trying to get her in the car without the flies following her. We just had a rain shower and it is pea- soup humid, so I don't know if that brought them out more than usual or not, but I have never experienced this!

 

[Teresa]

OMG Toots- I just walked Kate out to her morning carpool ride and you are right! Swarm! They swarmed around me- I was frantically trying to get her in the car without the flies following her. We just had a rain shower and it is pea- soup humid, so I don't know if that brought them out more than usual or not, but I have never experienced this!

have you had the sting before? the swarming is just nerve wracking. but the sting is what stays with you like a big sore itchy lump for days and days.

 

[sunspotbaby]

The yellow fly eggs hatch in the water after we get a good rain. I believe they are worse if we've had a pretty good dry spell before the rain (and we did). My big black dog is taking it tough. If i could put a glue trap on him, we'd have 'em licked!

Mosquito control will hang a black ball if you request it. Or you can make your own out of beach balls, or milk jugs. Paint it black, apply the glue, and hang it in the shade about 4-5 feet off the ground. I'm glad they don't last long and they are pretty easy to kill if you're diligent.