March Flies?
Lucien Coste
I'm interrested because I go to Australia (TAS and WA) in March?
Is the 'march' of 'march flies' the month? Seems ominous...
Thanks,
L. Coste
Matt Palmer
> Can someone explain to an non-aussie what are the march flies exactly.
They're farking huge, green flies that have a penchance for ankles[1], and
leave big red welts where they've bitten you. They're also damned hard to
kill - I've given them full double-handed claps, and they've hit the ground,
shaken it off, and flown away. Very, very nasty buggers.
> I'm interrested because I go to Australia (TAS and WA) in March?
> Is the 'march' of 'march flies' the month? Seems ominous...
It probably has something to do with it, but I've seen them through most of
summer. They do seem to be more prevalent later in summer, though, so
perhaps "peak" season is supposed to be March.
[1] Most of the march fly bites I've had and can remember are ankle bites.
Thankfully I don't wear socks all that much through summer.
- Matt
Zebulon Blah
They're very similar to the "horse flies" in the USA and possibly others.
Large, bitey, and they follow you in herds as you walk along a track. The
minute you stop to rest, you become horse fly dinner.
(You'll love Tassie, march flies or not. And leeches...)
gaza
"Zebulon Blah" <wan...@myrealbox.com> wrote in message
news:1103_1076110996@Loud_Belch...
> On 06 Feb 2004 21:19:14 GMT, Lucien Coste <luc...@bernolfo.roq.fr> wrote:
> > Can someone explain to an non-aussie what are the march flies exactly.
> > I'm interrested because I go to Australia (TAS and WA) in March?
> > Is the 'march' of 'march flies' the month? Seems ominous...
Most deaths in Australia attributed to this fly occur in March....hence the
name March Fly.
A compression bandage is useful but not always successful. I suggest you
bring a couple of pairs of pantyhose and soak them in DDT before you begin
the walk and also dye them red as this is the best repellant colour.
The only compensation about walking in March are that the drop bears have
finished mating and preparing for the oncoming Autumn.This also includes the
snakes, red back spiders and crocodiles.
Kenneth J Brodrick
If you run downhill the hoop snake will flip its tail over its head, bite
onto its tail and roll down the hill after you. Snakes such as red bellies
and adders dont do this, its only one species.
By the way if you stun March flies they make great bait for perch when they
come to(true)
Ken.
"gaza" <lazydaysRE...@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:c019lt$127hd7$1...@ID-137617.news.uni-berlin.de...
Anus
"Lucien Coste" <luc...@bernolfo.roq.fr> wrote in message
news:slrnc28131...@bernolfo.roq.fr...
The March Flies are the least of your worries. Watch out for the dreaded
Drop Bear!
Glendon
like to accentuate some of their positive aspects:
* they get lazy bushwalkers out of their swags shortly after sunrise; those
self same lazy bushwalkers are encouraged by march flies to not tarry at
their breakfast, or their ablutions; and they are then encouraged to keep on
the move with their bushwalking;
* they make great frog food;
* they provide great entertainment at lunch stops by providing the basis for
model aircraft construction.....catch six of them, thread carefully on a
piece of straw (all facing the same way!and without killing them!), add
another piece of straw as a fueselage...and lo and behold you have a model
of a six engined bomber............ with a bit of thinking, other fixed and
rotary winged model aircraft can be built and raced against each other.
BTW, I do believe that some previous posters may have confused the
differences between march/stable/green flies to some degree. A simple Google
search will put you straight on this, as it would have done on any aspect of
your original post
HUMBUG
> Can someone explain to an non-aussie what are the march flies exactly.
Australia has a loads of unique bugs - the March Fly among 'em. While
most insects bite in order to feed 'emselves the dreaded March Fly only
bites in order to cause pain to the bitee.
To avoid 'em as much as possible (not very much at all) do NOT wear
any blue, blue black, purple, etc.. Avoid like the plague anything that
reflects in the blue end of the spectrum. In short wear reds and
yellows.
> I'm interrested because I go to Australia (TAS and WA) in March?
> Is the 'march' of 'march flies' the month? Seems ominous...
It's because they keep you on the "march". They aren't good at moving
targets and much prefer the stationary walker.
Seriously - just wear reds and yellows and use a decent insect
repellant and you'll be fine.
> Thanks,
> L. Coste
>
--
Humbug
Stephen Oakes
> Can someone explain to an non-aussie what are the march flies exactly.
They're really just a cross between mossies and eagles. Nothing to worry
about as long as you have your blood supply handy.
--
Stephen Oakes
Ray Peace
It appears no-one has explained yet. March-flies are a
rather large variety of fly, up to 1 cm from nose to tail and across the
wings, normally found in the cool temperate forest country of the
south-east mainland and also in Tasmania.
They certainly bite and seem to be attracted to the colour blue, though
I've been unable to verify the latter. Being large, they are also rather
slow and thus easily swotted if you see one land on you, but also fairly
tough, so you have to give them a really good wack and/or stomp to
actually kill them, as opposed to merely stunning them.
I don't think march-flies per se are any better or worse than the
thousands or ordinary flies and the ubiquitous Australian blow-fly in
farming country, or mosquitoes for that matter. They are more in the
nuisance rather than the hazard category, unlike such friendlies as
bullants, scorpions, assorted spiders and snakes in the latter.
Regards,
Ray.
Zebulon Blah
>
> The March Flies are the least of your worries. Watch out for the dreaded
> Drop Bear!
>
Z
Rob
Or Bundaberg Rum.
David Springthorpe
>Humbug
I'll say.....
DS
David Springthorpe
>The March Flies are the least of your worries. Watch out for the dreaded
>Drop Bear!
Shoe 'im that ad currently on TV (albeit a polar bear).....
DS
Peter Signorini
"Ray Peace" <fer...@jeack.com.au> wrote in message
news:40255994...@jeack.com.au...
> Greetings,
> It appears no-one has explained yet. March-flies are a
> rather large variety of fly, up to 1 cm from nose to tail and across the
> wings,
Swatted a few today down on Phillip Island - a good 2-2.5 cm nose to tail
> They certainly bite and seem to be attracted to the colour blue, though
> I've been unable to verify the latter.
Oh, Ray don't you remember our angst that day on Mt Skene when, by strange
coincidence, all four of us were wearing BLUE socks. Yeeooww! Never again.
> Being large, they are also rather
> slow and thus easily swotted if you see one land on you, but also fairly
> tough, so you have to give them a really good wack and/or stomp to
> actually kill them, as opposed to merely stunning them.
> I don't think march-flies per se are any better or worse than the
> thousands or ordinary flies and the ubiquitous Australian blow-fly in
> farming country, or mosquitoes for that matter. They are more in the
> nuisance rather than the hazard category, unlike such friendlies as
> bullants, scorpions, assorted spiders and snakes in the latter.
Agree with you on all this.
Cheers
Peter
Maurice
all equipped with blunt hypodermic syringes that they use to get their
supply of blood. You do know when you have been jabbed by one.
They are also pretty stupid as well in trying to get to your legs through
boots, or canvas gaiters. They also have the ability to bite when you can't
retaliate, eg, when you are squatting and concentrating on matters of
comfort.
A good supply of Rid bug repellent does sometimes work reasonably well.
Cheers
"Glendon" <not...@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:UmYUb.45762$Wa.1...@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
Glen F
> most of summer. They do seem to be more prevalent later in summer,
> though, so perhaps "peak" season is supposed to be March.
Nah, they're pretty much gone by then, so the etymology is obscure.
They feed mainly on nectar from spring/summer wildflowers, but need
protein for egg formation prior to laying next years crop...
The worst biting flies in the world are the moscas of Lago Todos Los
Santos in Chile. Much bigger and fiercer than ours, and in
extraordinary numbers in mid summer. We asked a local "When do the
moscas go", to which she replied "on the 23rd of February", or
something such. Having a lend of us gringos, thought we ... but
apparently not so. I've since heard that they do all disappear on or
about a particular day at the end of summer each year.
Adrian Carter
Wilsons Promontory, having a break from skindiving. The bloody
thing bit me through a neoprene wetsuit!! But the neoprene stopped
him pulling out fast, and he suffered the ultimate penalty.
Adrian
"Maurice" <mau...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:c0689v$2uu$1...@lust.ihug.co.nz...
David Springthorpe
>I have been bitten while sitting on a rock near the water's edge at
>Wilsons Promontory, having a break from skindiving. The bloody
>thing bit me through a neoprene wetsuit!! But the neoprene stopped
>him pulling out fast, and he suffered the ultimate penalty.
I was on a beach (Sealers Cove ?) at WP in October (?) last, and not March
flies, but we were suddenly swamped by a swarm of flying insects that seemed to
be flying ants.....
DS
Shane White
are they called Horse Flies because they are bloody huge or is there
some relationship between them and Horse Poo?
The buzzing, I can still hear the buzzing...................
ANDY
Ordinary repellent will keep them away-they are not nearly as annoying as
mosquitos or sand flies. Kids like to pull off their wings...
andy
"Lucien Coste" <luc...@bernolfo.roq.fr> wrote in message
news:slrnc28131...@bernolfo.roq.fr...
Gadgets
> Ordinary repellent will keep them away-they are not nearly as annoying as
> mosquitos or sand flies.
Haven't had any luck with Aerogard or 'Skintastic Off!'... and I always
thought that the sand flies were similar?
Cheers, Jason
(remove xbox to reply)
XBox-USB adapters:
http://gadgets.shorturl.com
ANDY
red and swollen, also you don't notice them biting you because they are so
small and quiet.
"Gadgets" <gad...@xbox.jc.com.au> wrote in message
news:c14g6s$bk6$1...@perki.connect.com.au...
steamfreak
news:HpXUb.45697$Wa.1...@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> You forgot to mention to run away from hoop snakes uphill.
> If you run downhill the hoop snake will flip its tail over its head, bite
> onto its tail and roll down the hill after you. Snakes such as red bellies
> and adders dont do this, its only one species.
> By the way if you stun March flies they make great bait for perch when
they
> come to(true)
Yeah, I caught some nice trout in the Snowy Mountains using March flies for
bait - the trout were delicious, even more so because I caught them using
the March flies that were previously eating me...
Trevor.