Evil biting flies in the Abacos

[zboss]

OK, there is one thing that the Abacos scores very very poorly on... those evil biting flies. There are so many of them! When we just want to spend some time relaxing on a deserted beach or take a swim... we seem inundated by them. They are aggressive and will follow you back on your dinghy to the mothership.

Are the exumas the same way? We don't have these flies in such abundance in the BVI.

[RTB]

It must be the time of year? We never experienced them in the Exumas through June. We did get attacked by them 10 miles offshore between Fernandina and St. Simon on the east coast though (early summer).

Ralph

[paxfish]

Are you talking about the "doctor" flies? They spit a bit of anesthetic on your skin, wait a second, then bite? next thing you know you're bleeding like a stuck pig?

They are all over Andros.

DEET until your lips are numb....!

[zboss]

DEET seems to have zero effect... I've confirmed this on a bunch of places. They laugh at DEET!

Yes, the flies seem active in last spring to late fall and seem to be attracted to swimmers just getting out of the water.

[Thin Line]

They are everywhere this time of year, just worse in some areas. We got bit several times when in Morgans Bluff on Andros, fought with them in West Bay less.. By the time we made it to the Sea park in Exuma they were less frequent, and only when the wind dies down have they been seen in Blackpoint. It seems the more populated the area, the worse they are.. And yes Dr Flies they are ;-)

[ShaktiGurl]

My solution 😀

[Bohemian17]

The locals call them the bite doctor.

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[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by ShaktiGurl

My solution 😀
Attachment 103138

Bring on the flies! Or Bees. Or skitos!

Just watch those feet.

[JTHAW]

back in the day ...we called em..no see ums....if you put them under a microscope...half their body is a giant jaw with monster teeth...

[tbodine88]

They are no more evil than you are when you eat steak. It just that in this case YOU ARE DINNER

[JTHAW]

ohhh flies....not no see ums...doh!! sorry (in tiny letters).... horse flies...yup.. around occasionally....usually fast enough to swat them dead....but only after you've been bitten...

[JTHAW]

sorry...not so see ums....doh!!!...flies...yea...there around...be fast on your swat...

[paxfish]

Just to be clear, these are the bastages on Andros. The Doctor Fly:

[zboss]

Originally Posted by paxfish

Just to be clear, these are the bastages on Andros. The Doctor Fly:

Yes! That appears to be them, although the ones we see look more gray/blueish... We got on our dinghy today and there must have been half-a-dozen. Those suckers hurt when they bite!