A biologist explained the early activity of horseflies in Central Russia

The warm weather in March could have triggered earlier horsefly activity, but their mass flight directly depends on the air temperature. Olga Trofimova, Associate Professor of the Department of General Biology and Bioecology at the State University of Education, told Izvestia on March 18.

"Their departure is usually observed at an average daily temperature of +12... +18 degrees. Females start attacking humans three to five days after departure; their bites are usually very painful and often cause an allergic reaction," the expert explained.

Trofimova noted that the victims most often experience redness, itching, burning and slight swelling at the bite site. However, in some cases, more severe reactions are possible, including urticaria, Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock. An additional danger is the risk of infection when scratching damaged skin.

The expert stressed that in case of a bite, it is necessary to wash the wound with soap and treat it with an antiseptic as soon as possible. If you are prone to allergies, it is recommended to take antihistamines, and to relieve symptoms, you can use a cold compress or special gels. If severe swelling, shortness of breath, or dizziness occur, seek immediate medical attention.

As a preventive measure, the specialist advises wearing light-colored clothes, using repellents and avoiding places with standing water, where insects most often live.

Here are the vipers: why snakes have become more likely to attack people

Experts warn of a possible increase in such cases due to an increase in the reptile population.

On March 11, Azamat Kunafin, head of the Biodiversity Conservation and Monitoring Department of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection, told the Moscow City News agency that snakes can wake up ahead of time in Moscow at an average daily temperature of +8...+10 degrees. According to him, in addition to the desire to keep warm, after winter, reptiles also experience hunger and go hunting for mouse-like and other small animals, which increases the likelihood of their appearance on the trails.

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