Comments on: Strategies for Managing Your Relationship with New Zealand Sandflies http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/02/05/strategies-for-managing-your-relationship-with-new-zealand-sandflies exploring the world for the first time Sat, 03 Dec 2011 01:57:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ROBERT POMFRET http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/02/05/strategies-for-managing-your-relationship-with-new-zealand-sandflies/comment-page-1#comment-56870 ROBERT POMFRET Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:52:16 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1036#comment-56870 You state at the beginning of this Blog that New Zealand Sandflies are not sandflies, and are rather Blackflies ! Does this mean that you can not catch Leashmeniasis from them ? You state at the beginning of this Blog that New Zealand Sandflies are not sandflies, and are rather Blackflies ! Does this mean that you can not catch Leashmeniasis from them ?

]]> By: Christy http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/02/05/strategies-for-managing-your-relationship-with-new-zealand-sandflies/comment-page-1#comment-51689 Christy Sun, 20 Mar 2011 12:19:49 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1036#comment-51689 I have just read that a mix of half baby oil and half Dettol, is a local remedy to keep from being bitten. I just wonder, if it is the oil itself that is doing the job; I have used olive oil to keep from being stung by stinging organisms while snorkeling in tropical waters. I would try a strong mix of lavender oil and olive oil. I will be trying it in October and come back with the results. A good remedy for the bites is an antihistamine tablet smashed, mixed with a tiny bit of water and dabbed on the bad bits,it is a bit tedious if you have a lot of bites, but it works. Some people use meat tenderizer with good results (not kidding!). Ammonia or onion work well to neutralize bee stings (I am a beekeeper) could be tried on the sand- black fly bites as well. I have just read that a mix of half baby oil and half Dettol, is a local remedy to keep from being bitten. I just wonder, if it is the oil itself that is doing the job; I have used olive oil to keep from being stung by stinging organisms while snorkeling in tropical waters. I would try a strong mix of lavender oil and olive oil. I will be trying it in October and come back with the results.
A good remedy for the bites is an antihistamine tablet smashed, mixed with a tiny bit of water and dabbed on the bad bits,it is a bit tedious if you have a lot of bites, but it works. Some people use meat tenderizer with good results (not kidding!). Ammonia or onion work well to neutralize bee stings (I am a beekeeper) could be tried on the sand- black fly bites as well.

]]> By: Christy http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/02/05/strategies-for-managing-your-relationship-with-new-zealand-sandflies/comment-page-1#comment-51688 Christy Sun, 20 Mar 2011 12:05:02 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1036#comment-51688 Thanks for this very useful thread, we will be in the South Island in October, my friends travelling there now have just warned me. Everyone reacts differently to these beasts, I don't react where I am (Italy) but I had some get horribly infected from bits in Mexico many ions ago...My husband attracts these beasts and becomes a mass of bleeding wounds from their bites, and he has spent most of his life working in the wild in various countries...we all have a different "taste" obviously. Try eating a lot of garlic, could help, probably like anything else, it just does not work for everyone. Has anyone tried the smoke coils in their camps, or foggers that last 8 hours? (we have those now in Italy, they work great here...) I will be covering up, as suggested. thanks.All very helpful info here. Thanks for this very useful thread, we will be in the South Island in October, my friends travelling there now have just warned me.
Everyone reacts differently to these beasts, I don’t react where I am (Italy) but I had some get horribly infected from bits in Mexico many ions ago…My husband attracts these beasts and becomes a mass of bleeding wounds from their bites, and he has spent most of his life working in the wild in various countries…we all have a different “taste” obviously. Try eating a lot of garlic, could help, probably like anything else, it just does not work for everyone. Has anyone tried the smoke coils in their camps, or foggers that last 8 hours? (we have those now in Italy, they work great here…) I will be covering up, as suggested. thanks.All very helpful info here.

]]> By: Graham http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/02/05/strategies-for-managing-your-relationship-with-new-zealand-sandflies/comment-page-1#comment-41801 Graham Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:21:37 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1036#comment-41801 I have heard that taking Vitamin B 12 helps in keeping sandflies at bay - has anyone else heard of this - all pharmacies that I have asked say 'not true'! I have heard that taking Vitamin B 12 helps in keeping sandflies at bay – has anyone else heard of this – all pharmacies that I have asked say ‘not true’!

]]> By: Sharon http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/02/05/strategies-for-managing-your-relationship-with-new-zealand-sandflies/comment-page-1#comment-37619 Sharon Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:56:01 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1036#comment-37619 Thank you! I will be in NZ the month of March, spending most of my time on South Island. What should I prepare for fly wise that time of year? I lived a long time in the Alaskan Interior. Are these blackflies similar to the tiny human-eating monsters that live there? Thank you! I will be in NZ the month of March, spending most of my time on South Island. What should I prepare for fly wise that time of year? I lived a long time in the Alaskan Interior. Are these blackflies similar to the tiny human-eating monsters that live there?

]]> By: Dave http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/02/05/strategies-for-managing-your-relationship-with-new-zealand-sandflies/comment-page-1#comment-18508 Dave Fri, 24 Sep 2010 01:10:38 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1036#comment-18508 Wearing long underwear with shorts can help deter sand flies. On one outing I really got nailed because I was in shorts only. The people who had long underwear on were fine. Wearing long underwear with shorts can help deter sand flies. On one outing I really got nailed because I was in shorts only. The people who had long underwear on were fine.

]]> By: Natalie http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/02/05/strategies-for-managing-your-relationship-with-new-zealand-sandflies/comment-page-1#comment-16847 Natalie Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:32:45 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1036#comment-16847 Great advice Jo! We only had one beach experience that hundreds were biting at our ankles and calves. It is good to know that you found another remedy for those nasty sand flies. Thanks for sharing! Enjoy NZ!!! Great advice Jo! We only had one beach experience that hundreds were biting at our ankles and calves. It is good to know that you found another remedy for those nasty sand flies.

Thanks for sharing! Enjoy NZ!!!

]]> By: Jo http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/02/05/strategies-for-managing-your-relationship-with-new-zealand-sandflies/comment-page-1#comment-16071 Jo Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:45:45 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1036#comment-16071 We've lived in Northlands NZ since 17/6/10 and have been constantly bitten by black flies, which I was told were sand flies. The roll on repellent 'Repel' does not work very well when there are thousands of the little blighters on the beach. The Paraderm cream helps to sooth the bites. I wish I could find something more effective. I've been told to try citronella bands - would you recommend these? We’ve lived in Northlands NZ since 17/6/10 and have been constantly bitten by black flies, which I was told were sand flies. The roll on repellent ‘Repel’ does not work very well when there are thousands of the little blighters on the beach. The Paraderm cream helps to sooth the bites. I wish I could find something more effective. I’ve been told to try citronella bands – would you recommend these?

]]> By: Adam http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/02/05/strategies-for-managing-your-relationship-with-new-zealand-sandflies/comment-page-1#comment-9131 Adam Sat, 03 Apr 2010 19:52:03 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1036#comment-9131 Im planning a backpacking trip through NZ, just found out about sandflies. got a little worried, then read they were just black flies. I live in central ontario. we have mosquitoes, black flies, horse flies, deer flies, friggin... godzilla flies lol. then I stopped being concerned. the mosquitoes are the worst thing here. Ive gone camping once where I couldn't breathe without inhaleing a mosquito haha. I promplty packed up and went somewhere else though. Im planning a backpacking trip through NZ, just found out about sandflies. got a little worried, then read they were just black flies. I live in central ontario. we have mosquitoes, black flies, horse flies, deer flies, friggin… godzilla flies lol. then I stopped being concerned. the mosquitoes are the worst thing here. Ive gone camping once where I couldn’t breathe without inhaleing a mosquito haha. I promplty packed up and went somewhere else though.

]]> By: Renee http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2009/02/05/strategies-for-managing-your-relationship-with-new-zealand-sandflies/comment-page-1#comment-8374 Renee Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:55:35 +0000 http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/?p=1036#comment-8374 I have a HORRIBLE reaction to not only sand flies but also mosquitos. I live in Colorado and have very little reaction to our mossies but your leave scars. My husband and I own a house in the Indeavour Inlet ans i fight them every year. I really do have scars from these bugs. This year seemed particularly worse. I have tried ALL the local repellants including homemade. I guess I am just lucky that they think my blood is gold. They arract me more than anyone I am with! I did find that live aloe helped more than any other remedy this year in the healing process. As bad as I am bitten by both I still come back for 6 weeks every year. So please dont let them detoer you from visiting this wonderfull country! I have a HORRIBLE reaction to not only sand flies but also mosquitos. I live in Colorado and have very little reaction to our mossies but your leave scars. My husband and I own a house in the Indeavour Inlet ans i fight them every year. I really do have scars from these bugs. This year seemed particularly worse. I have tried ALL the local repellants including homemade. I guess I am just lucky that they think my blood is gold. They arract me more than anyone I am with! I did find that live aloe helped more than any other remedy this year in the healing process. As bad as I am bitten by both I still come back for 6 weeks every year. So please dont let them detoer you from visiting this wonderfull country!

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