The misery of the greenhead fly

Photo courtesy of www.bigstockphoto.com

Photo courtesy of www.bigstockphoto.com

On Tuesday, a greenhead fly bit my shin. This is a common hazard of spending time on the beach. The Tabanus nigrovittatus lives in salt marsh areas, and their population swells in July. They’re worse on days with a land breeze because the wind brings them over from the marshes and dunes.

I didn’t think much of it. The pain and itch of a greenhead bite is painful but goes away faster than those of mosquito bites. But by Wednesday morning, the spot was red, and I felt as if someone had lodged a quarter under my skin. By Thursday, the spot had spread, and was warm. My leg had swelled, my ankle turned into a cankle.

The bite had become infected. I never knew such a thing could happen, but when a bug pierces your skin, bacteria carried by the bug or bacteria that routinely lives on your leg can get inside. My doctor prescribed antibiotics and told me to wear a compression sock on my Friday flight. Today, the swelling is almost gone.

If your bug bite doesn’t go away after a few days, and the spot feels warm to the touch, make sure to get medical attention. Bug bites stink, but infections are far more dangerous.

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There’s not much you can do about greenheads. I haven’t found a bug spray that keeps them away. If it’s a land breeze, I move my chair right to the water line, or stay in the ocean. And pray for the wind to change.

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