Bugs

[chas]

Is it just me, or are land based aviating bugs getting more daring? Today, some ten miles offshore, I was assaulted by a bumble bee, two standard bees, five wasps, two bluebottles, three hornets and masses of flies various. The wind was parallel to the shore, so they had all made some effort to navigate to me. I cannot rememeber so many unwelcome visitors before so far out!

 

[KrisHansen]

Weird! I wonder if it's anything to do with the really warm weather... perhaps they get caught up in thermals and head for something they can safely alight upon.

- Kris Hansen

 

[incognito]

Where were you? I was about 3 miles offshore (Clacton) when we had an invasion of every sort of flying insect - including one ladybird. The wind was parallel to the shore, as you mentioned.
My shirt was a mass of ants, flies, sandwasps, flea sized things... I have not had this experience before.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Swallows and swifts.

We got thoroughly 'flied' on Saturday in the Solent, so not offshore. Not your common or garden house fly, but half-size models which had no objection to being picked off and thrown overboard. Aside from my efforts the sea surface was already liberally sprinkled with them.

And about a month back it was hoverfly day, this time around the back of the Wight.

I've noticed far fewer swallows and swifts this year. Could that be the reason?

 

[peterb]

Sea breeze

I wonder whether this was a sea breeze effect? Air rising over the land, being carried out at a thousand feet or so up, then sinking. Was there a sea breeze further inshore?

 

[gus]

Attractive smells

Maybe you are needing to clean out the pipes in the heads. Something must be attracting them.

 

[chas]

Re: Sea breeze

Possibly - it was fairly steady ENE where I was

 

[chas]

I was about 10 nm out in Lyme Bay - clear sky, no clouds.

 

[Guest]

A few years ago the south coast was inundated by 'Wasp look-alikes' ..... Hover Fly's

The reports said that they came over from France ... so thats not a bad feat - a few miles that !