The Weather

[Neferti]

Are you talking "house flies" or "blowies"?

I rarely see either. Probably because I shower daily, use deodorant, don't have any animals around, don't jog or do BBQs and keep the doors and windows closed.

I did have to do the Great Aussie Wave the other day down at Kippax (enclosed a/c shopping centre) when a little "house fly" came near me ... first fly I have seen since last Summer.

[mantra]

I haven't seen a lot of flies over the last few years. Occasionally in Summer a blowfly will sneak into the house, but that's about it. I hate blowflies. It takes ages to kill one.

[Black Orchid]

I have rarely seen a fly over the past several years but I have seen 2 blowies this year already. I hope it is not a sign that they are back.

[Outlaw Yogi]

Are you talking "house flies" or "blowies"?

What would normally be termed house flies, but fortunately they seem to stay outside, despite my open door and no screens.
Around camp I'll get a few, but as soon as I walk somewhere else on the block (typically to spray a weed infested area) they swarm, get in my face and don't give up. Then follow me back to camp.

I rarely see either. Probably because I shower daily, use deodorant, don't have any animals around, don't jog or do BBQs and keep the doors and windows closed.

I bathe at least once daily. Generally without fail in the morning, also in the evening if particularly dirty, and on occasion 4 or more time on a hot day. I don't buy deodorant, but if I need anti-stink I use eucalyptus oil or metho.
I do push a barrow around collecting fire wood, cook in a cast iron pan or stainless pots/urns over an open fire (or gas burner in van) and chase pigs around the forest with my dogs, but I've been doing all that for years now and it's only been this summer that this fly plague has occurred. It's not just around my place though, the whole region seems to be affected.

I did have to do the Great Aussie Wave the other day down at Kippax (enclosed a/c shopping centre) when a little "house fly" came near me ... first fly I have seen since last Summer.

These persistent little bastards must make me look like an acid tripper having a spider psychosis with the constant swatting.

[Outlaw Yogi]

I haven't seen a lot of flies over the last few years. Occasionally in Summer a blowfly will sneak into the house, but that's about it. I hate blowflies. It takes ages to kill one.

Don't get many blowies, but I find them easier to kill. They're slow enough I can swat them mid air.
Those big red or black and orange hornets can be taught to stay outside.
They often (not this summer though) come in the van trying to build their mud nests.
I swat them to the floor, they get up to attack and I knock 'em down again.
Then they learn their lesson and leave. Later on they'll try to sneak back in, but I only have to raise my hand or sometimes just look at them and they go away.
Sometimes when outside I have those little black and yellow mud wasps crawling all over me.
They don't annoy me like flies and if I swat them it pushes their stinger into me.
I've been stung by various types of wasps so many times I've become somewhat immune to their sting.
Green ants on the other hand still hurt a bit, and spit must have a mild anaesthetic in it, because the instict to rub spit on the bite seems to relieve the ache.

I'm led to believe the sap from the stem of green Bracken fern and gel from aloe vera relieves insect bite stings, but am yet to test it.

[mantra]

Aloe vera is the best cure for spider bites, stings and also psoriasis. I maintain a huge plant. I know someone who used it daily for 2 weeks on some small facial basil cell carcinomas which completely disappeared. I've seen it used on an unknown spider bite where the lower arm became very swollen, turned blood red and was incredibly painful and itchy. The irritation subsided within 24 hours. It's magic, but you've got to spread it on every half hour or so for bad skin problems. The more severe the problem - the longer and more regularly you need to use it.

You can even give the sap orally in moderation (a couple of drops twice a day) to animals with allergies or illness.

[Neferti]

Aloe vera is the best cure for spider bites, stings and also psoriasis. I maintain a huge plant. I know someone who used it daily for 2 weeks on some small facial basil cell carcinomas which completely disappeared. I've seen it used on an unknown spider bite where the lower arm became very swollen, turned blood red and was incredibly painful and itchy. The irritation subsided within 24 hours. It's magic, but you've got to spread it on every half hour or so for bad skin problems. The more severe the problem - the longer and more regularly you need to use it.

You can even give the sap orally in moderation (a couple of drops twice a day) to animals with allergies or illness.

I cannot recall ever being bitten by a spider, a snake, wasp or a bee! Mozzies used to just love my ankles when I used to go out in the evening to water the pot plants (or for a smoke in the evening). Even they seem to have stayed away from me for a long time ... or maybe I learned not to go outdoors at dusk with a hose and a ciggie (almost 10 years since I gave them up).

[mantra]

I've been bitten on the feet by a few bees when I've wandered outside and they've been crawling on the ground. I'm guessing this is because of the change in weather pattern and the buds which should be sprouting on plants aren't there. They probably travel a long way for a feed and then when there's nothing they collapse from exhaustion. Mosquitoes love my blood. I have screens on every window and door, but one always manages to find its way inside and bite me half a dozen times. There are parts of my garden which I don't venture in in case there's a snake hiding there. Same goes for spiders - I've seen a few varieties which spin beautiful cobwebs which I occasionally walk into. So far I've been lucky and haven't been bitten by one.

Last year I saw a wasp nest hanging high in one of the trees. I left it alone and hoped the wasps would leave me alone. As long as they're not disturbed I assume they're fairly harmless.

[Neferti]

I've been bitten on the feet by a few bees when I've wandered outside and they've been crawling on the ground. I'm guessing this is because of the change in weather pattern and the buds which should be sprouting on plants aren't there. They probably travel a long way for a feed and then when there's nothing they collapse from exhaustion.

It's NATURE ... tread on a bee/spider in bare feet ... get stung/bitten. Absolutely zilch to do with "weather patterns" or whether a right or left Government is in "power".

Mosquitoes love my blood. I have screens on every window and door, but one always manages to find its way inside and bite me half a dozen times. There are parts of my garden which I don't venture in in case there's a snake hiding there. Same goes for spiders - I've seen a few varieties which spin beautiful cobwebs which I occasionally walk into. So far I've been lucky and haven't been bitten by one.

Mozzies breed in birdbaths and such. Stagnant water. Spiders in the garden feed on insects that the Magpies and other birds don't. Snakes only wander into your plot because they are looking for water ... they don't come there looking for people to bite.

Last year I saw a wasp nest hanging high in one of the trees. I left it alone and hoped the wasps would leave me alone. As long as they're not disturbed I assume they're fairly harmless.

IF it was a European wasp you should report it. They need eradication. Paper wasps and various others don't attack people ... unless you annoy them. I had such a nest in my carport last Summer ....... could see the wasps and, initially, I was a little frightened as I needed to go down to put stuff in the bins and use the car, etc. NOTHING happened. So I made sure I didn't attract attention and all was OK.

[Neferti]

THEN, Queensland has TOADS, ghastly creatures and some even play GOLF. TOADS should be eradicated and were for 2 years here at the WWPA. THEN somebody let the TOADS OUT.