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Yellow flies......is anything being done?

ShellsBeach Comber
1,575 views
Don't recall yellow flies being this bad last summer. This summer they have been a pain, literally. Sitting at Pizza by the Sea for a quick dinner this evening when I got bit 5 times on my feet. I swell up bad when bit by these flies. I took some Benedryl and now have my feet propped up with ice. They are red and swollen. The county sprays for mosquitos. What about yellow flies? Their bite is much worse! Is anything being done?

Replies

17
Zebraspots avatar
ZebraspotsBeach Fanatic
#2
I don't know that a nuclear blast would affect yellow flies.
Seagrovestateofmind avatar
SeagrovestateofmindBeach Lover
#3
I know there were 11 fewer of them after I left a week ago. :cool: I think I killed one a day in the elevator at our complex. There were several outside our door one evening as well. Told the wife we would have to bring a swatter. I don't want them sneaking up on me at night in the condo. One did manage to bite me and I have what looks like a permananet red mark on my arm.
BeachbumAggieBeach Fanatic
#4
I got a few bites almost 2 weeks ago and they are still red and irritated; mean little batturds!
Maystrong avatar
MaystrongBeach Lover
#5
Cactus Juice is the only product we have found that keeps them off of you. The makers of Cactus Juice, now have a product to use if you do get bitten (that also is awesome on sunburns, kitchen burns, etc). It is called "miracle gel". A friend of ours got into a swarm of yellow flies and after buying everything at the drug store she could find, was on her way to the emergency room. At last resort, she got some miracle gel, rubbed it in and within 15 minutes she was fine! I highly recommend it!
Joyce Owen avatar
Joyce OwenSoWal Staff
#6
I'll have to drop by and get some of each. If the Cactus Juice works, I might buy stock in the company! I'm one of those unfortunate folks that seem to attract yellow flies and have a really bad reaction. Ammonia helps once I've been bitten, but how nice it would be to keep them off!
Carol G avatar
Carol GBeach Fanatic
#7
Yellow flies LOVE me, and this summer has been the worst so far. At one point a couple weeks ago I got bit 9 times in one day and 7 the next, and I already had several healing bites. I'm not too proud to admit that I have actually cried, with tears, from these awful bites. I don't know which is worse, the initial swelling and pain or the never-ending itch. :(
Cactus Juice stopped working for me unfortunately. After doing even more research online (this has been an ongoing yearly battle) my current tactics are spraying all over with a mixture of yellow Listerine, tea tree oil, and clove oil before I go outside. So far, so good, they seem to be staying away. If I do get bit, I ice it as soon as I possibly can, use the ammonia, and rub Ben Gay on it. The Ben Gay takes a few minutes, but it actually works to relieve the pain/itch; it's the only thing I've tried that does. I have to re-apply it a few times, every few hours, but the bites seem to heal much quicker. So if any of you see me out and about and I smell weird, now you know why...
I hate those useless little batturds, I really do.
LuciferSam avatar
LuciferSamBanned
#8
Rub a mixture of crushed benadryl and 91% isopropyl into affected area immediately. Then drink some Everclear and benadryl shooters. You never want to get bit on the feet. Always wear socks, and stay in the sun.
jodiFL avatar
jodiFLBeach Fanatic
#9
I don't know that a nuclear blast would affect yellow flies.
Yellow flies would probably like that...Otherwise, No ..nothing can or will be done about yellow flies. As much as the TDC would like you to think that everything is unicorns and rainbows here, there are things that arent so nice to humans and not much that can be done about it. Yep ,we have gators and snakes and bears and flying things that I havent quite figured out that higher beings purpose for. But the good things far outweigh the bad so we all just deal with them. Welcome to Florida!
ktmeadowsBeach Fanatic
#10
I know its been posted somewhere before but now that i need it I cant find it....where can i purchase cactus juice? My sons and fam are on their way down fir the week and i know we will be running into these pesky flies !! Thanks in advance for any info!
Kurt avatar
KurtAdmin
#11
Pick it up at For The Health Of It in Blue Mountain Beach. A most satisfying shopping experience. :grin:

[video=youtube_share;7j3z_etUsqE]http://youtu.be/7j3z_etUsqE[/video]
NotDeadYet avatar
NotDeadYetBeach Fanatic
#12
Campho-phenique and Mentholatum are good treatments for the bites.
They seem to especially like to swarm late in the afternoon or early in the morning if the weather is very humid and cloudy and the air is still.
They should be gone in another few weeks.
Rachael Ashman McKee avatar
Rachael Ashman McKeeBeach Lover
#13
To prevent yellow fly bites, I have great success with taking a garlic pill daily. I heard a bug that bites for blood doesn't like garlic. I believe it works.
Here4Good avatar
Here4GoodBeach Fanatic
#14
To prevent yellow fly bites, I have great success with taking a garlic pill daily. I heard a bug that bites for blood doesn't like garlic. I believe it works.

Plus, as a bonus, you should be safe from vampire zombies.
Rachael Ashman McKee avatar
Rachael Ashman McKeeBeach Lover
#15
Too true! NO vampire cooties! Humans, you're on your own with those bites. And garlic is also good for cholesterol, Ya'll.
JeanLafitte avatar
JeanLafitteBeach Comber
#16
Arrête de te plaindre.
SlowMovinBeach Fanatic
#17
Anything with a high concentration of DEET (over 50%...preferably 100%) will keep them off just fine.
Maystrong avatar
MaystrongBeach Lover
#18
I know its been posted somewhere before but now that i need it I cant find it....where can i purchase cactus juice? My sons and fam are on their way down fir the week and i know we will be running into these pesky flies !! Thanks in advance for any info!

Seacrest Sundries has a supply of it!

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