With the deer louse fly – colloquially “flying tick” – a potentially dangerous parasite spreads in us. An overview of the most important facts.
What is the deer louse actually?
The deer louse fly, also called deer louse, belongs to the family of louse flies: These are blood-sucking insects. You can recognize them externally by these features:
- It can be five to seven millimeters in size.
- Your body is compact.
- The strong legs have claws.
Home of the deer louse fly Forests and forest edge areas – here she is mainly on the move between July and October.
Deer louse fly spreads in Germany
the warm temperatures of the past winters apparently led to a growth in the deer louse population in Germany – normally the larvae do not survive in the cold winter. Just like the tick, the deer louse looks for a host on which it can survive and reproduce. But unlike the tick, it can fly which makes finding a host easier.
Deer louse fly feeds on one bite
Once she has found the perfect victim, her wings fall off. The deer louse fly then looks for a suitable place in the hair or in the fur in a flash, hooks itself firmly and lives as a blood-sucking parasite until the end of life: This can take up to 13 months.
The deer louse absorbs up to 20 milligrams of blood per bite, which is why its rear body swells – we also know that from ticks. When it is full, the female looks for a male to mate. The larva that it gives birth to falls on the forest floor and pupates before it also turns into a deer louse fly.
The deer louse fly attacks horses, dogs – and people
Because it prefers to stay in forest areas, the deer louse fly mostly seeks out wild animals, hence the name. But it also affects domestic animals such as horses, dogs and cows. We humans are not immune to it either: During a walk in the forest, the flies, often in swarms, launch veritable attacks. However, they are not very good at flying and cannot travel long distances. But with luck they manage to land on their victim.
The bite of the deer louse fly can lead to a rash
The bite of the pest is painful for animals and can lead to too purulent inflammation fto perform. The pet owners can tell that a dog or horse has been hit by the fact that the animals react nervously or even panic and often scratch one place.
Humans, on the other hand, usually do not even notice a deer louse fly bite. The puncture site – preferably in the neck or on the head – can hardly be seen. However, an itchy rash may develop within a few days, „Hirschlaus-Dermatitis“ called. Inflammation is also possible, the trigger is probably the bacterium “Bartonella schoenbuchensis”.
How dangerous this process is for humans and whether the bacterium is transmitted at all, one does not know yet – the data situation is so far thin. In any case, you have to deal with it longer.
Which remedies help against the deer louse fly?
There is a preventive measure no active substances yet. Insect repellants with essential oils can be found in stores. Some doctors recommend antiparasitic drugs for animals. But these means do not offer one hundred percent protection.
This makes follow-up care all the more important: You should do it both for the animal and for yourself search the skin while walking, especially if you have met a swarm of insects. Ideally, the deer louse fly can be found before it has thrown off its wings and clung to it. Otherwise, the following measures can help:
- Comb out fur or hair with a flea or lice comb.
- Secure insects with tape and remove.
- Then burn or crush to prevent it from multiplying.
- Disinfect puncture sites.
Wound and healing ointments can help against itching and redness. You should also see a (veterinary) doctor if the symptoms persist after being bitten by a deer louse fly.
Swell:
Beware of the “flying tick”: How the deer louse fly attacks horses, dogs and humans in: parasitenportal.de
The deer louse fly in: Academy for Animal Naturopathy
–
