Insect Identification

stuart said:

Does anyone have a name for this flying insect regularly found in the NW
highlands http://www.stuartstuart.fsnet.co.uk/temp/insect/

Weird... I dunno, but the one in the top right photo appears to have a
dislocated wing, poor little thing.

I can find no sign of it in my Collins Complete British Wildlife.

Elegantly turned little legs it has, too.

Quoted message said:

It must of been their day yesterday in the Big Glens of Affric, they were
out in biblical proportions, they were even a bigger nuisance than the
Midge, Clegg and Ticks (and their was no shortage of these either)

Ugh. Were they biting?

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."
g.w.AT[guessthisbit].com

Peewiglet said:

stuart said:

Does anyone have a name for this flying insect regularly found in the NW
highlands http://www.stuartstuart.fsnet.co.uk/temp/insect/

Weird... I dunno, but the one in the top right photo appears to have a
dislocated wing, poor little thing.

I can find no sign of it in my Collins Complete British Wildlife.

Elegantly turned little legs it has, too.

Quoted message said:

It must of been their day yesterday in the Big Glens of Affric, they were
out in biblical proportions, they were even a bigger nuisance than the
Midge, Clegg and Ticks (and their was no shortage of these either)

Ugh. Were they biting?

Best wishes,

As I recall, they don't bite but they do manage to get into your hair
and those elegant legs means they get caught up in it quite easily.

druidh

Peewiglet said:

stuart said:

Does anyone have a name for this flying insect regularly found in the NW
highlands http://www.stuartstuart.fsnet.co.uk/temp/insect/

Weird... I dunno, but the one in the top right photo appears to have a
dislocated wing, poor little thing.

I can find no sign of it in my Collins Complete British Wildlife.

Elegantly turned little legs it has, too.

Quoted message said:

It must of been their day yesterday in the Big Glens of Affric, they were
out in biblical proportions, they were even a bigger nuisance than the
Midge, Clegg and Ticks (and their was no shortage of these either)

Ugh. Were they biting?

Best wishes,

As I recall, they don't bite but they do manage to get into your hair
and those elegant legs means they get caught up in it quite easily.

druidh

Quoted message said:

From your photo it looks like it has two wings, not four (like a

dragonfly or beetle). That ought to make it some sort of Diptera( the
order of insects with only two wings)
It sort of looks like it has piercing mouth parts, so if it was not
biting it may be because it has to pierce something like a plant stem
not skin.
Wonder if you were there on their favorite day of the year! Like time
to swarm for mates?
If you find out, it would be nice to know. Nice shots.

Trek Lightly http://www.mytrekkingpoles.com

stuart said:

Does anyone have a name for this flying insect regularly found in the NW
highlands http://www.stuartstuart.fsnet.co.uk/temp/insect/

It must of been their day yesterday in the Big Glens of Affric, they were
out in biblical proportions, they were even a bigger nuisance than the
Midge, Clegg and Ticks (and their was no shortage of these either)

I recently posted a question about the same creature to an entomology
newsgroup.

Answer: Member of the fly family, variously known as louse fly, deer
fly, moose fly, elk fly.

Flies onto host and then tears off its wings and has a happy life biting
& sucking.

Often climbs onto humans, hiding in hair & clothes, but rarely actually
bites them.

I've had several drop off me after a walk in the woods (Northern
Germany) - nasty looking things! The ones around here are even flatter
and more louse-like.

Chris

In message <[email hidden]>, stuart
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Does anyone have a name for this flying insect regularly found in the NW
highlands http://www.stuartstuart.fsnet.co.uk/temp/insect/

It must of been their day yesterday in the Big Glens of Affric, they were
out in biblical proportions, they were even a bigger nuisance than the
Midge, Clegg and Ticks (and their was no shortage of these either)

Deer-fly. Lipoptena cervi. A blood-sucker that feeds on red deer. They
have long, toothed claws that grip hair and clothing, making them
difficult to remove. I've encountered swarms of them in the Highlands a
few times. They don't seem to bite people.

"Hiker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

From your photo it looks like it has two wings, not four (like a

dragonfly or beetle). That ought to make it some sort of Diptera( the
order of insects with only two wings)
It sort of looks like it has piercing mouth parts, so if it was not
biting it may be because it has to pierce something like a plant stem
not skin.
Wonder if you were there on their favorite day of the year! Like time
to swarm for mates?
If you find out, it would be nice to know. Nice shots.

With thanks to the other posters these insects were indeed Deer Flies (or
Deer Ked) the following site gives a good summary
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/deer_keds.htm

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peewiglet said:

stuart said:

Does anyone have a name for this flying insect regularly found in the NW
highlands http://www.stuartstuart.fsnet.co.uk/temp/insect/

Weird... I dunno, but the one in the top right photo appears to have a
dislocated wing, poor little thing.

I can find no sign of it in my Collins Complete British Wildlife.

Elegantly turned little legs it has, too.

Quoted message said:

It must of been their day yesterday in the Big Glens of Affric, they

were

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out in biblical proportions, they were even a bigger nuisance than the
Midge, Clegg and Ticks (and their was no shortage of these either)

Ugh. Were they biting?

Best wishes,

As I recall, they don't bite but they do manage to get into your hair
and those elegant legs means they get caught up in it quite easily.

Quoted message said:

druidh

This was my trip into the Big Glens from Killin as mentioned a week or so
ago.

Didn't get away until late on saturday so not arriving at the gates till
3am. straight into the sleeping bag then Up and ready to go at 8 only to
find No Bike on the top of the van! This was quite disturbing because I was
sure I had put it there before setting off, had the thing come loose on the
drive up, was it on the road somewhere between the Borders and Killin ? had
it caused an accident? might the police be looking for me? Luckily I found
out later in the day I had left it on the driveway at home!

So NO BIKE, this was going to be one big day out! Shanked it for miles along
the road before heading up via the falls of Glomach, never got a proper look
at the falls for the insect problem. It was really warm and humid, the sweat
was poring out of me, much of the path was covered in waist high bracken and
grass, the Cleggs were vicious regularilly drawing blood, Ticks everywhere,
and the F'in Deer Keds were covering me!

So no rest till high up on Ceathreamhnan, the next part of the day was
fantastic, Over Ceathreamhnanon to An Sochach then back across to Dheiragan,
impressive ridges surround by massive, wild and remote glens, and not one
other person seen all day! awesome place

But then from Dheiragan it was back down into insect hell and a very long 13
mile walk off, with the light fading the Midge was now out in force so their
was no chance of any stops or rest, just a continuous 3½ hour slog.

Overall I think the day was some 27 mile with 6500' ascent ..... big day
out!

Nice TR - very amusing! I know you meant Killilan and not Killin (bit
of a trek otherwise - bike or not).

Magic place - I need to go back to do the Dheiragain / Ceathreamhnan
horseshoe but I'm thinking of doing it from Loch Mullardoch. This means
either a trip in by boat from the dam or mibbe trying the canoe thing.

druidh

The message <[email hidden]>
from "druidh" <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

I know you meant Killilan and not Killin (bit
of a trek otherwise - bike or not).

I too wondered for a minute there! Fortunately, the road from Iron
Lodge is tarred for the most part and possible to do in the dark,
otherwise it would have meant a night out with all those beaks and
mouthparts for company. I was up there the other week doing Aonach
Buidhe - in rain mist and midges.

Another goodly walk is to park at the Iron Bridge car park and ascend
Ben Killilan, curve around to Sgumann Coinntich and then follow the
bendy corrie ridge through to Faochaig, dropping back to the glen at
Carnach for the 8 mile trek out.

--
Cheers,
Compo - "Desert Storm was a stirring victory for the forces of
aggression and lawlessness." (Dan Quayle, vice president)

"compo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The message <[email hidden]>
from "druidh" <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

I know you meant Killilan and not Killin (bit
of a trek otherwise - bike or not).

I too wondered for a minute there!

???
wondered what, whether I had walked in from the banks of Loch Tay ? :-)

Quoted message said:

Fortunately, the road from Iron
Lodge is tarred for the most part and possible to do in the dark,
otherwise it would have meant a night out with all those beaks and
mouthparts for company.

I have been benighted a few times ice climbing, and I know I can hack it,
but I shoulder at the thought of a night in the open during a warm still
august night! I think i would be demented with the insects by morning!

Quoted message said:

I was up there the other week doing Aonach
Buidhe - in rain mist and midges.

Must be a spectacular place when the rivers and streams are in full spate. I
am determined now to get a view from the top so I only venture up north when
the weather is good, I still often go out in the Cheviots (my back garden)
when the weather is full on, something very special about being in the hills
on a violent day!

Quoted message said:

Another goodly walk is to park at the Iron Bridge car park and ascend
Ben Killilan, curve around to Sgumann Coinntich and then follow the
bendy corrie ridge through to Faochaig, dropping back to the glen at
Carnach for the 8 mile trek out.

--
Cheers,
Compo - "Desert Storm was a stirring victory for the forces of
aggression and lawlessness." (Dan Quayle, vice president)

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Nice TR - very amusing! I know you meant Killilan and not Killin (bit
of a trek otherwise - bike or not).

Magic place - I need to go back to do the Dheiragain / Ceathreamhnan
horseshoe but I'm thinking of doing it from Loch Mullardoch. This means
either a trip in by boat from the dam or mibbe trying the canoe thing.

druidh

I must do the canoe thing too, must be a great way to access remote places
and do the hills from non conventional routes!

I think i read something that the man with the boat on loch mullardoch will
not drop people off on the south shore!

stuart said:

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Nice TR - very amusing! I know you meant Killilan and not Killin (bit
of a trek otherwise - bike or not).

Magic place - I need to go back to do the Dheiragain / Ceathreamhnan
horseshoe but I'm thinking of doing it from Loch Mullardoch. This means
either a trip in by boat from the dam or mibbe trying the canoe thing.

druidh

I must do the canoe thing too, must be a great way to access remote places
and do the hills from non conventional routes!

I think i read something that the man with the boat on loch mullardoch will
not drop people off on the south shore!

Hmm - he was doing so up to at least two years ago as I bumped into a
view folk walking back to Mullardoch when I was up Mam Sodhail / Carn
Eige / Beinn Fhionnlaidh.

And another thing - how come Mullach nan Dheiragain hardly gets a
mention in the "most remote Munro" category? I've seen Seana Braigh
listed there and, even from Inverlael, it's hardly in the same league.

druidh

whoa stuart! I never heard of deer keds. The deer fly that I know is
also a diptera but it doesnt drop its wings and feed as the description
says. This one sounds nasty!

gotrek
www.mytrekkingpoles.com

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I think i read something that the man with the boat on loch mullardoch

will

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

not drop people off on the south shore!

Hmm - he was doing so up to at least two years ago as I bumped into a
view folk walking back to Mullardoch when I was up Mam Sodhail / Carn
Eige / Beinn Fhionnlaidh.

May be I read it here
http://groups.google.com/group/uk.rec.walking/browse_thread/thread/77db63152
d6f9c43/88f2b8276f856142
7 years old and info of this group ...... dodgy :-)

Quoted message said:

And another thing - how come Mullach nan Dheiragain hardly gets a
mention in the "most remote Munro" category? I've seen Seana Braigh
listed there and, even from Inverlael, it's hardly in the same league.

Good thing about not being in the "most remote Munro" category, is that you
get to enjoy it by yourself. Most remote classified hills are busy places
with those seeking solitude!

stuart said:

With thanks to the other posters these insects were indeed Deer Flies (or
Deer Ked) the following site gives a good summary
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/deer_keds.htm

OMG... they sound like absolute nightmares! Wing-shedding,
blood-sucking, bonking, multiple baby-inserting monsters!

<fx: shudder!>

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"We cannot let terrorists or rogue nations hold this nation hostile, or
hold our allies hostile."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com

On Wed, 7 Sep 2005 00:34:31 +0100, "stuart" <[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

So NO BIKE, this was going to be one big day out! Shanked it for miles along
the road before heading up via the falls of Glomach, never got a proper look
at the falls for the insect problem. It was really warm and humid, the sweat
was poring out of me, much of the path was covered in waist high bracken and
grass, the Cleggs were vicious regularilly drawing blood, Ticks everywhere,
and the F'in Deer Keds were covering me!

The Scottish summer! There's really nothing quite like it :-))

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"Will the highways on the internet become more few?."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com

stuart said:

when
the weather is good, I still often go out in the Cheviots (my back garden)

I know where you li-ive!
I know where you li-ive!!

:-)))

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

"Will the highways on the internet become more few?."
g.w.AT [guessthisbit].com

In article <[email hidden]>, Peewiglet
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

stuart said:

With thanks to the other posters these insects were indeed Deer Flies (or
Deer Ked) the following site gives a good summary
http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/deer_keds.htm

OMG... they sound like absolute nightmares! Wing-shedding,
blood-sucking, bonking, multiple baby-inserting monsters!

Oi! P'wigglet, nooooooo!

The rest I understand but wot's wrong with bonkin???-(

--

Dominic Sexton