During the summer months, they increase the chances of embarking on the simulids, better known as black flies. They can be confused with mosquitoes and mosrins, but their bite can be rather annoying, as well as a vehicle of infections in rarer cases. We learn to recognize them and find out how to behave in case of bites.
What do the simulids (or black flies)
These small insects, whose body is generally between 1.5 and 6 mm, have an arched chest, wide wings and small antennas.
There is a fundamental difference that concerns food behavior between the sexes: males are nettivori, therefore they feed exclusively to nectar, while the females are hematophagians, therefore need blood for the deposition of eggs. The black flies, which are part of the order of the ditteri, are mainly near streams, rivers and waterfalls, given that the larvae develop in well -oxygenated aquatic environments; In fact, their presence is often associated with healthy ecosystems, as various studies confirm.
How the bite appears
The “sting” of the black fly is not like that of the mosquito, but decidedly more annoying. The females, needing for blood for the maturation of the eggs, use a mug system to affect the skin and leave a hole that in some cases can also bleed.
We show you how the bite of a simulide appears thanks to a testimony of our loyal reader:
“The skin was irritated and inflated, with a hole in the center then about 4 more holes,” he tells us.
During the attack, they release saliva containing anticoagulant and anesthetic substances, which cause immediate pain, itching and swelling.
Saliva, containing enzymes that prevent coagulation, can also cause adverse reactions. Usually everything is resolved within a few days, but in some cases, especially in sensitive individuals, more serious complications can be encountered, such as allergic reactions or, more rarely, or infectious diseases (they are among the vectors of oncoccosis, a disease spread in sub -Saharan Africa and Latin America, better also known as river blindness).
What to do (and what not) if you are bitten
In the event of a bite of the simulide, you must avoid scratching (even if it is not easy to resist temptation). To find relief it is advisable to rinse the area with fresh water and disinfect it, while it is better to avoid resorting to grandmother’s remedies. If the area is swollen, a little ice can be applied.
If the burning should be excessive or other symptoms such as fever, headache or allergic reaction are felt, it is good to go to the pharmacy for a cortisone -based ointment or consult a doctor.
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