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The bite of the blackfly is not only painful but can also endanger the health of humans and animals.
A study on the blackfly was recently published in the journal “Science of the Total Environment” by scientists from Goethe University and the Senckenberg Research Center for Biodiversity and Climate in Frankfurt. These two-winged insects look like our houseflies but are not nearly as harmless.
Global warming is also boosting the population of these insects, which are no more than six millimetres in size, and researchers are warning against their bites. As with other bloodsuckers, the females are particularly dangerous, biting into the host’s skin and drinking its blood. The blackfly “spits” an anticoagulant substance into the wound, which not only triggers allergic reactions but can also transmit infectious diseases.
Mosquitoes can transmit the following diseases:
On the continent of Africa, this small mosquito is primarily a carrier of the local nematode “Onchocerca volvulus”, which could be responsible for so-called river blindness. According to the WHO, more than one million people worldwide have gone blind as a result.
Insect sprays theoretically also help against black flies, but they pollute the environment and can also trigger allergic reactions and irritation. However, the smell of human sweat should be minimized simply by showering frequently in the hot months – because this attracts mosquitoes. As the blackfly also breeds in water, you should avoid standing water and empty rain barrels and birdbaths regularly.
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