Although the tsetse fly certaintly can swarm and bite, the individual bite does not compare to that of the horse fly in the states. I also noticed that some individuals are attacked and bitten much more ofter than others by the tsetse. The horse fly seems not to discriminate.

Comments or opinions?

I have never had horse flies bother me. I only once saw a kid get nailed by one. They are thick around my mules in the heat of the summer, but quickly disappear when it starts to cools off. Maybe they are more aggressive down your way.



Fortunately for me, the tsetse seems to like others more than me, though I have got bitten my share. You're right, their bite is less dramatic and bloody than horse flies (and the white, snow fly variety like in Yellowstone which will make a horse drop and roll, regardless of rider, saddle, pack, or anything else. Their bite must hurt like hell).

There's a big difference. It's called trypanosomiasis.

Pain is secondary. I'd rather get chewed by a big-toothed mammalian predator (okay, in a non-critical spot) than get sleeping sickness.

Is it still the general concensus that the Avon product is the "best" solution for trying to ward of testse flies? I hear it doesn't help for long, but is there anything better?

Here in Michigan we get a very large, black horsefly in August and part of September. We call them B52's.

At the SOUND of them horses go mad. Horses react violently to the bug getting on their backs. They will go into bucking fits and gallop to try and keep the fly off. If bitten they raise a lump on the animal the size of your fist. If you are on the horse when this happens you won't be there very long. Horses also learn very quickly that their owners can catch these nasty flies and you may get stampeeded in ernest for the horse to have you remove the bug from their backs.

I have found Johnsons skintastic to be the best Tetsi fly remedy but you have to apply it every couple of hours..Take garlic pills for several weeks prior to your trip and during your trip, 2 in the morning and 2 at night, that seems to work real well for some..

I have used 100% deet and its no more effective..I argued this point one time with JJ Hack when he said 100% deet was no more effective than ? percent was...He was right!

I find the Tetsi much more aggressive than a horse fly and Tetsis are in higher numbers, I am truly loved by millions of Tetsis, if I am in camp then everyone else is safe, they all attack me and leave everyone else alone..

The incident of Sleeping sickness is so remote today that its all but unheard of and for all practical purposes is a desease of days gone by..or so I have been told by some doctor clients...and its supposedly easily cured with antibiotics..

Spring,
I am still in recovery mode from the Tsetse's .
I would describe the "infestation" encountered as mild to moderate,absent in may be 50% of the country driven.
Its agressivenes also seems variable by location and time of day or temp.All this distills into difficulty comparing counter measures.Nevertheless I accumulated serious bites in all exposed locations,face chest,belt region arms etc
the flies bit thru all my shirts and pants.I smeared the Avon product on as described,each morning.My clothing was soaked in the stuff.I noticed that DEET spray onto my pants etc kept the flies at bay for maybe 1hr.
The minority of the bites are actually painful and you have a chance to hit the fly while it nurses on you,but at the end of the day I noticed multiple wounds all over that were never noticed to be bitten.Worse - at least for me,the wounds dont heal readily like mosquito bites would.
I think they inject some anesthetic or anticoagulant and other stuff that sets up a serious inflammation in my tissues.Individuals seem to vary in that response.

Bottom line is that the best defense for me was that I had the Shannon Bug Tamer Plus jacket with me.I finally overcame pride and zippered the jacket up plus wore the cap + faceshield the last few days.I felt infantile but was safe from thereon on my upper body.I will now also get the pants.

hope this helps some soul

N'gagi
We developed a small but satisfying methodology,if we caught a tsetse: free them from their wings and let them go.That way we didnt have to pay trophy fees and the little buggers are still walking - until they get sore feet

How about this sight, you'll probably remember...I looked over at my PH, and on the window next to his head was a Tsetse fly that was swollen and gorged and glowing like a red LED as the sun illuminated his abdomen.

When I squished him (he was too full to escape) it left a 3 inch blood smear on the glass.

I was told the fly has a barb on his "beak" and that it's the young ones that you feel as the barb is still sharp. The older ones have a worn down bill and you don't feel them drill in.

I don't know, but makes sense.

I haven't yet had the pleasure of the tsetse fly but I know that horse flies cause me to do wild and idiotic things . However, they can be swatted out of midair once you get good. The worst ones we have here in East Texas are the little yellowish deer flies - utter torment as they will swarm you and their bite is sharp . Mosquitoes - hey they can only drink so much. After living on the Texas coast while a teenager I got to know that anywhere else there just aren't that many mosquitoes. Also, on the coast, there are two sizes of mosquitoes - ones small enough to get through the screen door and others that are big enough to open the door and walk right in.

Little know facts about Tetsi flies: by Ray Atkinson

1. Did you know that if you pull one wing off they will fly in circles..

2. The best weapon for them is two interlocked rubber bands (only inside a vehicle cab) and there is no trophy fee or limit and you can bet on kills, wounded and escapees and make some big bucks..good for a days entertainment and to release those hatefull agressions toward the little buggers.

3. The Tetsi likes to land on darker colors, therefore you tell all your cohorts to wear dark green Khaki shirts, while you wear light Khaki, thereby protecting you own body...

4. Always take the passenger side of the vehicle and have the PH roll up the windows and turn on the air conditioner, sometimes one must threaten the PH with a severe gunshot injury to the foot if he does not comply..Also you can watch the guys in the back fight off the barbarian hords of flies that ascend upon their helpless bodies.

5. Staying in camp, reading, and taking several showers a day to beat the heat, is the best way to protect oneself from Tetsi fly bites, its relaxing and easy on the body, be sure that Walter does not remain in camp with you.....

6. When the happy (or sad) hunters return from camp, check all their clothing for piggy back flies and if you see one knock the living shit out of the fly and the hunter, that way you will kill the fly and leave the hunter with a vivid memory to check for flies before returning to camp..

7. Any other suggestions would greatly be appreciated as to Tetsi fly control, short of which product in a bottle or spray can is best and will keep flies off of you. Be sure and Jap slap the crap out of anyone who makes such a riduclas product suggestion, and give them a firm warning..

Have a good day.

Ray,

All excellent facts and plans of action.

Some other facts I am sure the men here will apprecitate:

Tsetse flies, horse flies and mozzies all are all females that bite you. They cannot reproduce with out one or two blood meals.

Similarly, in wasps and bees, only the females sting. Males, when produced, are stingless.

Now if they would just do all the work and bring home the money, life would be good.



I heard that the newborns must get blood the first 24 hours or they die, which is why the darn things are so persistent. I wonder if that is true.