2023-08-08 07:00:11
The multiplication of these insects could be linked to the rise in temperatures in the country.
Are you about to spend your holidays in Spain or are you currently staying in the Iberian Peninsula? Watch out for black flies! The National Association of Environmental Health Societies (Anecpla) warned last week against the proliferation of this insect. According to her, the number of black flies has increased sharply in the country for several years.
The black fly, or simulium, which measures about 3 millimeters, is particularly active in regions such as Andalusia, Aragon or Catalonia. This increase in the number of insects could be linked to the various episodes of heat waves observed in Spain in recent years.
The rise in temperatures “makes the metabolism of these insects, which depends on the outside temperature, increase. They therefore reproduce for longer and more times,” said Anecpla director Jorge Galván, interviewed on the channel. television La 1.
A blood-bitten insect
In France, the black fly has also been present for “a very long time”, explained to the Parisian Gérard Duvallet, medical and veterinary entomologist, professor emeritus at Paul-Valéry University in Montpellier. “Usually, we have feedback from pharmacists who see the victims pass by during the month of August. For the moment, we have not had any signals.”
Like the mosquito, the black fly is hematophagous, that is to say, it feeds on blood. A necessary blood for females so that they can develop their eggs. In contrast, the black fly bites, but does not sting. The saliva left by the insect can cause severe pain as well as an allergic reaction manifested in particular by fever, nausea or headache.
How to avoid getting bitten?
In order to avoid the bites of the black fly, the Spanish authorities advise not to walk near waterways, particularly at dawn and at the end of the day. They also recommend wearing dark clothing covering arms and legs and using repellents.
If you are bitten by a black fly, take care to quickly disinfect the wound and avoid touching it to prevent infection. Cleaning with soap and water or applying an anti-inflammatory can also relieve pain.
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