Monster Horse Flys

Macroman · Sep 1, 2003

In the Ohio river valley in KY we had large horse flies(?) at least they looked exactly like horse flies. The first time I saw one was when I first moved into our house. It had high cedar celling I went to bed the first night and looked up to see a 3 inch long horse fly on the celling. Needless to say I switched rooms but did not sleep too soundly.
I never saw one bite but asked the locals and they said they would rip a chunk out of you. I have never seen them anywhere else are they mutant horse flys? We were not that far from Oak Ridge.

cowboydoc · Sep 1, 2003

Don't know about the East but I've seen them from Idaho to Iowa and everywhere in between. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Dozernut · Sep 1, 2003

They are so big around here they carried off the cat! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Ole Bill fell asleep under a tree and the dang horse flies took his shotgun and beat him with it! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
We are trying to organize a sunday fly shoot. Certain rules are being laid for safety, no less than no. 4 shotshells, two shooters at at time to backup each other and no running like a little sissy if a swarm approaches. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Texas ain't the only place that grows them big! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

riptides · Sep 2, 2003

They seem to have gotten bigger here in Virginia too, and downright mean. I had one buzzing me as I was building the tractor shed this w/e. I left the area for an hour, came back and it was right at me again.
After it landed on my arm, while I was laying a metal roof panel down, I could hear it tease me, before it decided to drill for blood.
Being it the awkward position that I was, not wanting to let a panel go sliding down the roof, I tried to blow it off. It shook the wind right off, and decided to pounce before insertion.
Needless to say, the panel slid down and dented up against a tree, the ladder went one way, the horse fly another, and I went back to the house with a BIG welt.

Ouch I said. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

-Mike Z.

gws · Sep 2, 2003

This year has been really bad for horse flys. I assume because of all the rain we have had.

Macroman · Sep 2, 2003

I guess I should qualify this a little. I have been bit by a horsefly and deer flys. Once while swamping roads in the north west the deer and horse flys were so thick that I counted the kills for the day, 150. Did not count Deer are as they were too numerous and did not count unless I hit and stomped as they often return if you do not finish them off.
I now live in AL but have lived north as far as AK, east in MA and as far south as AL. I travel most of the country but have not encountered the monsters anywhere but the OH river valley in KY/IN.

gws · Sep 2, 2003

We have them bouncing off of the patio door. They fly around and try to fly in and "BOING" they hit the glass.

poorboy · Sep 2, 2003

I also live in this area and for some reason they are worse this year. Especially at the lake . They were so bad that my wife had to bring the kids home early. They would follow the pontoon around the lake. This was at Cave Run.

Patrick

Macroman · Sep 2, 2003

They have been worse here in AL also but none of the monsters here.
I have seen it so bad in the north woods that the bears and moose sit in the lake to avoid the flys. If you walk you end up running and if you slow down they will bite right through your shirt. Have not seen the files that bad in the south, ticks on the other hand!!!

Hoosier_Daddy · Sep 2, 2003

When I was a kid we used to use the thumb and index finger and kind of pinch them and shove broom staws up their butts and turn them loose. They fly away the best they can. For a little ways.

Geez, haven't tried that for many years. Sounds kind of cruel doesn't it? Guess I am getting older.

Imagine that?

Tom