The breeze to the knees carries away the fleas?

[Andrewson]

My wife and I had a memorable day out at the International Horse Trials at Blenheim Palace today. At one of the many trade stalls on the show ground I was accosted by a guy who make belts and buckles (Buckle and Hide): "There's a brave man," said he. I thought at first he was referring to the kilt but no, it was because I was barelegged (in sandals) with the kilt. "The deer fleas will get you," he forecast. Well it is true that the Horse Trials are staged on what must be the deer park of the Palace but I'd never heard of their fleas being partial to a bit of human flesh before. "Oh no," I said, "I grew up with Scottish midges and must be immune by now." (Best I could do and I could see he was not convinced.)

It was very breezy today. A particular pleasure in my 11oz 7yd PV casual - and, with the exception of a slight Marilyn moment coming down some steps, a completely circumspect one too!

But the breeze to my knees got me thinking that it is a well known fact that the said Scottish midges don't come out if the wind speed gets over a few knots. So are the deer fleas that much more desperate that they have to leap into gale force winds? I took comfort from the thought that they wouldn't but I just wonder if I'm right?

No itches so far... but you never know

[Chris Webb]

I can't speak intelligently about the fleas but the Chiggers here in Texas couldn't care less what the wind speed is. Someone once said that if they owned Hell and Texas they'd live in Hell and rent out Texas. LOL!

Honestly, though, the chiggers want to go to damp warm areas like socks and underwear ... soooo, you really can beat the chiggers here by wearing sandals and going Regimental. I've gotten only one chigger bite under the waistband of my kilt while my friends have been eaten up by them in their pants.

One more reason to ...

Kilt On.

Chris Webb

[Blu (Ontario)]

Are you sure the fellow didn't mean "Deer Fly"??



These are robust agressive biting flies with metalic green eyes and a real pest to livestock. A smaller version of the even larger horse fly.

I've not heard of a "Deer flea" before... Deer ticks - yes.

[Kilted KT]

Are you sure the fellow didn't mean "Deer Fly"??



These are robust agressive biting flies with metalic green eyes and a real pest to livestock. A smaller version of the even larger horse fly.

I've not heard of a "Deer flea" before... Deer ticks - yes.

I HATE deer flies.

As for other winged peskies, I spent a week kilted in the mosquito and everything else infested woods of Northwestern Massachusetts. Any wind at all and they just disappear. I think only one had the audacity to vernture up the kilt. It was the last thing it ever did.

[Pour1Malt]

Are you sure the fellow didn't mean "Deer Fly"??



These are robust agressive biting flies with metalic green eyes and a real pest to livestock. A smaller version of the even larger horse fly.

I've not heard of a "Deer flea" before... Deer ticks - yes.

the Scots word fur "fly" is "flea"...

"house flea"... "bottle flea" ..."flea in an aeroplane"....

[Andrewson]

the Scots word fur "fly" is "flea"...

"house flea"... "bottle flea" ..."flea in an aeroplane"....

Very ingenious P1M. You are quite right but the Buckle and Hide man was definitely English and I don't think he was trying to put on a Scottish accent for my benefit. Has been known , but not this time.

Having done a bit more research I suspect he was using the term as an approximation to "tick" another blood sucking pest. Deer ticks certainly cling to the tops of grass stalks in the hopes of hopping onto a warm blooded mammal for a meal, especially around this time of year and into the autumn.

If there were any lurking on the Blenheim Deer Park grass they don't seem to have braved the strong breeze and leap to my legs. No itches so far ...

[Freelander Sporrano]

I think he was refering to one of these beasties.


My Brother-in-law ended up in hospital last year. All because he just brushed one off his leg and not removing all the mouth parts. If not treated properly you can end up with liver damage

[morrison]

I've been bitten by a deer fly. Rather painful and memorable. It aint the kind of bite you want another go at. That photo of the tick makes me step back (for goodness sake son it's only a photo!). Even so, I've been fortunate in that every tick that has gotten on my skin so far I've discovered before being poked.

[Graham]

Oh don't be "girlie men", little beasties indeed, we have to contend with bare legs and dangerous snakes, crocodiles, red-back and funnel web spiders and the like!

[Andrewson]

After those warnings from Freelander and Morrison, I'm even more relieved to have escaped the tick. I had absolutely no ill effects after our day in the deer park. Thanks to the breeze to my knees, no doubt.

I certainly do have the greatest respect for the fauna of Australasia having seen what an ant bite did to my wife when we were there last. The only croc we saw (in the Danetree River) was the size of my thumb and was not much of a threat. But then it is not the size that matters as this thread shows ...