[Sylvia]

Please do remember, though, that what kills flies is poisoning you

[Ina]

A friend of mine has been having problems with deer flies recently - which I'd never heard about; says they look a bit like blue bottles. And she )and her husband) had very nasty reactions to them - ill for several days. Mind you, that was in Ireland - maybe they are a local variety?

[Lesley Silvester]

No, there were deer flies in Arran -  nasty vicious brutes bigger than horse flies and I had to have anti-histamines at all times to take if I was bitten because of the reaction.
 
OH is still alive as he remembered the fly spray  .  The fly appeared soon after and landed on my slippers so I gave it a good squirt, asthma or no asthma.  It flew off but I haven't seen it since.  Hopefully it is now dead.

[Mel]

A friend of mine has a battery powered electric tennis racquet! by pressing the button,they stick to it,fry a little,and fall off when the button is released.quite amazing really-and it works

[rispainfarm]

leghorn, I have one of those and they are as you say brilliant, but you still have to hit the buggers

[Lesley Silvester]

That would be a problem for me.  I can't move that fast.  Sounds good though.

[Ina]

No, there were deer flies in Arran -  nasty vicious brutes bigger than horse flies and I had to have anti-histamines at all times to take if I was bitten because of the reaction.
 

Ah - maybe they are more a thing of the west, then. If we did have any here in the NE, I'm sure they would have found me by now. I've recently been bitten a lot by something or other - never saw the beasties - but anything that likes blood seems to like me...