Learn all about yellow fly bite and treatment of its bite. In Florida, the name yellow fly is commonly used to describe a group of about a dozen different yellow-bodied biting flies in the Tabanidae family. However, Florida tabanid experts recognize only one species, Diachlorus ferrugatus (Fabricius), as the true yellow fly. In Belize this species is known as the doctor fly.
The yellow fly is a fierce biter. Like mosquitoes, it is the female fly that is responsible for inflicting a bite. The males are mainly pollen and nectar feeders. Tabanids are most likely encountered in hot summer and early fall weather. They are active during daylight hours.
Although they attack their prey throughout the day, they tend to be most active during afternoon hours, just before dusk and on cloudy days. They can attack both outdoors and indoors and any exposed part of the body is at risk of their biting.
Yellow fly bites are usually very painful, often resulting in large, itchy swellings. Yellow flies have a characteristic quiet flight which makes their victims not aware of their presence until the sharp pain from their bite becomes apparent.
If a bite wound gets infected, people should bathe it with clean, warm water using a clean cloth or cotton wool. It is also good to speak to a healthcare professional. A doctor may prescribe antibiotic treatment. Horseflies are not usually very harmful to humans. They do not transmit any disease through us, although they do spread swamp fever in horses. This disease can be fatal for the mammals.
What are Yellow flies
Yellow flies are a large bodied biting fly related to deer flies and horse flies. They are typically ¼ inch to just under ½ inches in size; this is the same as deer flies. As their name suggests, they have a distinct yellow flair to their appearance. As with most flies in this group, these are persistent and will follow people. This can give the illusion of a large group around you. Typically, there are just a few (except in rare seasonal outbreaks) and these few continuously attack you.
Yellow flies Bite Pain & Treatment
The female yellow fly is one of the most serious biting fly pests wherever it occurs (males do not bite). It attacks man vigorously, and the bites are painful, often causing large and itchy swellings. Although it attacks throughout the day, it is most active during the late afternoon and on cloudy days. It is especially common near large bodies of water, but tends to remain in or near forests. Below is the general purpose for sting relief of yellow flies. It is also helpful for mosquito, chigger and jellyfish bites.
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/3 cup ammonia (Windex is mostly ammonia)
- 1/3 tsp. papain (meat tenderizer)
- 1 crushed aspirin
- Mix thoroughly and store in refrigerator (be sure to label container). When needed, shake well and apply with cotton swab, and rub briskly.
Yellow flies bite allergic reaction
Yellow flies, like mosquitoes, sense substances including carbon dioxide, perspiration, and moisture in exhaled breath and warmth in humans as it chooses a suitable host. Once it finds a host, the fly inserts the piercing mouth part, lacerates the skin, then injects anticoagulant-containing saliva to keep the blood flowing. The bite can transmit diseases and the saliva can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions to sensitive individuals. The yellow fly adult female is a fierce biter and can deliver a bite that is painful and causes itchiness and swelling around the bite. Like mosquitoes, the female consumes blood while the males do not bite and are mainly pollen and nectar feeders. Females are most actively biting during the late afternoon before twilight and on cloudy days. Yellow flies are strong fliers, and females may travel long distances in search of blood meals. Generally, yellow flies stay around the larval breeding site, though.
Yellow flies bite blisters
Yellow flies bite causes localized swelling and an itchy red area around the bite. Itching and scratching of bite wounds which can lead to secondary bacterial infections if the site of the bite is not kept clean and disinfected. If the bitten area is not treated carefully blisters may appear.
Yellow flies bite Treatment
Yellow fly bites usually heal on their own, but you may consider the following intervention measures to relieve the symptoms and hasten the healing process:
- Apply some saliva on the bite site immediately. The histatin in saliva will help to minimize symptoms.
- Clean the wound with soap and water once at home, or better yet apply an antiseptic to sterilize the area.
- Apply hot, salty water compress on the site of the wound to minimize swelling
- Take some antihistamine medication e.g. Benadryl to reduce itching. Ask at your local drugstore (chemist)
- Apply a low potency steroid cream (1% hydrocortisone cream) to relieve inflammation and itching. These are available over-the-counter in most local drug stores.
