wrote on Jun 18^th, 2009 at 8:21pm:

Sounds like the dreaded Mosca negra or black flies.They put wifey in hospital 2 years ago for a very large 'JAB'. The male aren't a problem...it's the females that take your blood.....does the story sound familiar The females then buggar off to the river and lay their eggs.

Not only is it the female that gives the worst bite but have you noticed that it is also the ladies who seem to suffer most from it with bad swellings, blisters etc that last for days and need antihistamine treatment ?
Most men just seem to get an irritation that lasts for approx an hour.

I have noticed that if I use Betadine Gel, availble from the chemist, on the bite when I notice it that the irritation is reduced quite considerably.