Escambia County’s Mosquito Control has noted an increased number of yellow flies in the field and calls from residents.
Common yellow fly species include horse flies and deer flies, which are more active from late May to early July. They frequent wet, shaded areas on the edges of forests, rivers and creeks and tend to avoid open, sunny areas. Yellow flies are well-known for having a painful bite. They prefer to bite the head, neck and shoulders, but any exposed part of the body may be bitten. Symptoms of a bite include: a red, itchy, swollen area surrounding the bite, itchy skin and, in rare cases, a severe allergic reaction to the fly’s saliva.
Here are a few tips to prevent getting bitten by yellow flies this season:
1. Avoid the outdoors in the early morning and late evening. Yellow flies are most active during these periods.
2. Cover up. If you work outside, wear long sleeves, pants, closed-toe shoes and head nets. You can also use bug repellents containing DEET.
3. Create and hang a bug ball in your yard. A bug ball is a sticky black ball that attracts and traps yellow flies with a sticky substance. These black balls are usually hung on a tree limb. The dark color combined with the ball's movement from the wind will attract yellow flies. You can also use everyday objects such as a painted milk jug to create a bug ball.
If you are bitten by a yellow fly, you can also try applying topical corticosteroid creams to decrease inflammation and antihistamines to control itching. If you face a severe allergic reaction, seek medical attention immediately.
