Monday 16 June 2014

Did God make horseflies?


There are four more of these, just out of shot.

All in all, the Summer is going quite nicely here, with a good mix of weather meaning that the foliage has kept a good green at the same time as everyone getting a decent dose of vitamin D (I am told).

The only real drawback to a good Summer for me is the horseflies. I don't remember them as a kid, but now they are everywhere and - as I said last year - I think they were the model for those medieval depictions of Hell, with biting, winged creatures adding to the torment of the damned as they are shovelled into the gates of the underworld by red demons.

This year, I have found myself wondering what the impact on the ecosystem would be if they could be completely and selectively eradicated.

It's not just that I begrudge a bit of my blood to a starving creature - I have quite a lot of it - it is the whole extraction process that I don't understand. Not only does it hurt as soon as they get their saw-teeth into you, the infected bite - no matter how brief - is five times worse than any mosquito's and lasts five times as long. How are they so successful?

This is a serious question: Can anyone tell me of a single beneficial effect (as perceived by us humans) that the common horsefly or mosquito has on the natural world? At least wasps eat aphids.

No counter-questions about what good I am to the natural world, please. I ask myself that every day as it is.

27 comments:

  1. Maybe that title should have started with, 'Why'.

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  2. Hello Tom,

    We are back from our travels and Italians making music in our apartment and here, early on a Monday morning, you ask such a question of immensity and complexity. We are not able to cope nor, rather oddly, able to find any words of reply to your deep and meaningful question.

    However, we are happy that the summer is progressing well for you. That

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  3. (When we make a mistake for some reason we cannot correct it on your site)..........

    ......your foliage is green, all is well at the Bell Inn and you are happily dancing away to the strains of Zorba the Greek fills our hearts with joy. And, we are certain that you would look fabulous in a white suit.

    Happy Days!

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    1. Your response(s) have almost made the existence of horseflies worthwhile, even if you couldn't supply any answer. I'm glad it's all going well for you too, but I know Venice has a particularly nasty little mosquito living in the old wells. Quite a few, actually.

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    2. When one is looking at such fabulous old wells as there are to be found in Venice, the odd bite or two can be completely forgotten.....until the day after that is!

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    3. The day - and the next 20 years after.

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  4. Might these swans eat them? Don't know what eats them.
    In Nova Scotia once I encountered the black fly - absolutely horrific so in answer to your question - I don't know why they were put on this earth. But then I do occasionally come across people about whom I ask the same question.

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    1. I don't think they hatch on riverbeds, Weave, otherwise they certainly would eat the,

      Camel Spiders freak me out the most.

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  5. There are some insects where I wonder why they are here on earth. (For them the question concerning us is easier). Horseflies are hell, as they can sting through garments. For 'normal' mosquito-bites (I hope I use the right word - I do not speak of malaria-mosquitos - maybe it is gnats?) I found a wonderful device to counteract that awful itching: "bite away" (on Amazon), gives little electric shocks into the bite, does hurt only a second - then protein around coagulates - and end of the story. Though if it helps with those much bigger horsefly.bites I don't know - and no: I don't have bonds in "bite away"

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    1. Hmm... interesting - I'll look for it. Yes, horseflies are designed to go through the hide of a horse in a second. They are good at their job.

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  6. Male horseflies feed on pollen and nectar only as they do not have the mouth parts required for blood feeding. - See more at: http://runjanellerun.com/2012/04/15-interesting-facts-about-horse-flies/#sthash.AZe0gZXG.dpuf

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    1. More interestingness - I didn't know they were flower fertilisers as well. I'll look it up.

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  7. Of course, I googled it, but I could not find a beneficial effect to horseflies. I was only able to find out that they are attracted to 'big moving objects'. Hooray to little people who are too lazy to move!

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    1. I'm big, but the only time I move fast is when another thing is trying to get me.

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  8. you just need me to sit near you and all the biting things will leave you alone and head on over to me.

    I was told a long time ago by a urologist the reason things bite me is because I am susceptible to uric acid (Ive had kidney stones). so if you have had gout, they like you also. I have no clue if this is true. So lay off the meat and they should leave you alone.

    Also can be a sign of cholesterol. mine is low so that is hog wash where I am concerned

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    1. Sorry, but it is all hogwash. I've never seen a horse or cow eating meat (though I know it has happened), but I've seen a few which have had heart-attacks. These have been race-horses in the main.

      Uric acid? Nah - I don't believe it.

      Some alternative medicine twats will say anything it they think you will believe it.

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  9. This is an existential question. Perhaps addressed to the wrong audience?

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    1. Could you point me in the direction of the right audience?

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  10. to provide blog fodder when there's nothing else to complain about?

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  11. They are designed to force humans into doing some physical exercise; run or be lunch.

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    1. Staying indoors does the trick too. They don't like walls and roofs it seems.

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  12. There is to be a plague of them in the West country this summer, especially in Bath.

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  13. I like swimming in lakes and rivers. Only snag is these blighters ambush me when I came out of the water before I can reach for my towel. They seem to delight in attacking my wet skin. Barstewards!

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  14. Mosquistoes feed bats?
    Again, I was just thinking about this the other day - stop getting in my head!

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