Female of the species is culprit in black fly scare; A blood sucking insect may be responsible for a series of attacks in the Midlands which have left four people needing hospital treatment. Samantha Lyster reports.

From: The Birmingham Post (England) | Date: August 30, 2001 | Copyright information

Byline: Samantha Lyster

As with mosquitos and horseflies it is only the female black fly which bites. It feeds on blood to help it breed.

But the bites cause irritation and sickness for humans, animals and birds - and can even lead to life threatening anaphylactic reactions.

Black flies can be any one of a number of species of small humpbacked flies, which are typically dark in colour with broad, transparent wings.

The female needs blood...

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