Giant mosquitos?!

[TwyfordM]

What the heck is going on, these things are huge!!!

About double the size of the ones we normally get and they come at you with a vengeance and don't give up until they're dead

I had one attach itself to my finger and I tried to beat it off and it just remained attached until I squashed it

I've had three come at me this morning and I'm covered in bites. I'm in Kent so hardly reknown for the mozzies, not near any bodies of water etc




Send help?!

 

[Fransurrey]

Get used to it. Climate change is bringing more species over from mainland Europe and beyond. I work in a Virology institute that is actively researching mosquito borne diseases and there has been a massive increase in what we would consider 'hot country diseases' being diagnosed in Northern Europe. The damn things love me, so I'm not enthusiastic about this.

 

[TwyfordM]

Get used to it. Climate change is bringing more species over from mainland Europe and beyond. I work in a Virology institute that is actively researching mosquito borne diseases and there has been a massive increase in what we would consider 'hot country diseases' being diagnosed in Northern Europe. The damn things love me, so I'm not enthusiastic about this.

So the solution is move further north?!

Iceland?!

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I had one of these on me while I was riding this morning, thought it was a daddy long legs at first

 

[Alibear]

I'm glad you said as I've noticed a few lately that I thought were larger than usual.

 

[Nasicus]

I think that's still a Cranefly, possibly Tipula Confusa?

Craneflies, Gnats & Midges | NatureSpot

www.naturespot.org.uk

Tipula confusa | NatureSpot

www.naturespot.org.uk

 

[PurBee]

west ireland is the same - massive mozzies, never ever seen here before. Theyre as ferocious as midges too.
They started about 2 wks ago. The horses are being bothered by them, giving them large welts - never happened in all these years.
September is usually the ‘freedom from summer biting insects month!’

 

[Burnerbee]

Could be a tiger mosquito - they’re actually fumigating Paris because of them (how that works, who knows)

‘A first in Paris’: city fumigates for tiger mosquitoes as tropical pests spread, bringing disease

Parisian health authorities treat French capital for the first time as Zika and dengue-carrying tiger mosquitoes advance through northeastern Europe

www.theguardian.com

 

[TwyfordM]

Could be a tiger mosquito - they’re actually fumigating Paris because of them (how that works, who knows)

‘A first in Paris’: city fumigates for tiger mosquitoes as tropical pests spread, bringing disease

Parisian health authorities treat French capital for the first time as Zika and dengue-carrying tiger mosquitoes advance through northeastern Europe

www.theguardian.com

Well I've already got Covid sooo ...

 

[TwyfordM]

I think that's still a Cranefly, possibly Tipula Confusa?

Craneflies, Gnats & Midges | NatureSpot

www.naturespot.org.uk

Tipula confusa | NatureSpot

www.naturespot.org.uk

Do they bite though, these things literally attack you like some kind of zombie I've got bites on my legs/hands/arms

 

[Auslander]

I got bitten on the bum by one the other day that looked like it was on steroids! Admittedly its surface area was greatly increased by the splatting I gave it.

 

[ponynutz]

I’m a magnet to anything that bites for some reason. Don’t know if it is these that I’ve been bitten by this year but I’ve been covered in much bigger welts than normal!

 

[Pedantic]

Beating off a mosquito.. phrasing..phrasing

 

[TwyfordM]

Beating off a mosquito.. phrasing..phrasing

 

[cobgoblin]

Craneflies are harmless. I think Nasicus has identified it.
I couldn't find a mosquito with spotty wings.

 

[Snow Falcon]

Highly recommend hot spooning for bite relief

 

[Kunoichi73]

If it is a Tiger mozzie then it's from the Aedes genus and they are vicious little so and so's. I find bites from them come up really quickly into small, hard lumps but go down quickly too, if I don't touch them. If the itch is too much, then an anti bite cream, such as Anthisan, can help. Unfortunately, some people react badly to the bites and get a lot of swelling in the area.

 

[Sleipnir]

Not long until you'll need signs like these from Florida...

 

[TwyfordM]

Not long until you'll need signs like these from Florida...

View attachment 122575

Bloody covered. They keep sending back up.

Not winning the war

 

[Squeak]

I've been bitten and chased twice by what looked like it should have just been a blue bottle. It didn't look like a mosquito or a horsefly and so I innocently let it zoom around the room until it bit me and even when I swatted it away it kept coming back and chasing me. Then a couple of days later I had the same thing happen, they hurt when they bit as well but weirdly no lump/ itching from their bites.

 

[dorsetladette]

I'm covered in bites from these monsters. Currently sporting one on each butt cheek! last week it was the ball of my foot. With the hot weather we have been doing evening checks a bit later, and then having BBQs with friends, but by about 8pm we get swarmed.

 

[cariadbach10]

My gelding is being bitten by something really horrid. Am having to keep him fly rugged all the time, poor lad. Whatever is about is seriously nasty.

 

[Nasicus]

For the first time since I can remember, we've actually got Crab Flies in our particular patch of Devon!
Suspected one the other day as one of the usually placid horses started kicking and bucking and flailing about in it's stable suddenly.
Then when tacking up yesterday, my mare was swishing her tail and lifting a back leg. A quick look and a pull at something near her udders later and I was holding one of the little abominations betwixt my fingers (before promptly crushing the little cretin, full of blood eurgh!).

 

[CorvusCorax]

Yeah there are very large mozzies here too. I spend most nights splatting them against the walls/ceilings with a Flash Speed Mop before bed.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

My husband always used to say that flies bite. I suspected that it was when they landed and tried to feed off you that they possibly secreted something that felt like a sting. No idea if I was right or not.

I've been bitten and chased twice by what looked like it should have just been a blue bottle. It didn't look like a mosquito or a horsefly and so I innocently let it zoom around the room until it bit me and even when I swatted it away it kept coming back and chasing me. Then a couple of days later I had the same thing happen, they hurt when they bit as well but weirdly no lump/ itching from their bites.