For this holiday, the mosquito might not be the only insect wanting to ruin the summer. As the mercury rises, black flies are also biting and invading Spain. No, not all flies are harmless. Present around streams, black flies bite animals as much as humans, reports France 3. The National Association of Environmental Health Societies (Anecpla) explains that the population of black flies, “musca negra”, has exploded in recent years. years in the country.
Smaller than the house fly, rarely exceeding 3 mm, the black fly has the particularity of feeding on blood. Originally from the tropical regions of the American continent, black flies are present throughout the world. But unlike the mosquito, the black fly does not sting, it bites. The insect injects an anesthetic that allows it to bite unnoticed. Once its effect is over, the saliva left in the skin causes very intense pain that can lead to allergic reactions. Lesions can remain for up to a month and lead to hospitalization.
To avoid being bitten, it is recommended not to stay near waterways, especially at sunrise and sunset, the periods when the fly is most aggressive. To date, no black fly bites have been recorded in France.