Blowies and bush flies are what the Aussies call them. They are houseflies, some large, some small and in the Spring in Western Australia they are around in huge numbers. They don’t bite and are attracted by sweat and dark colors.
When it’s warm out, you feel them tickling your bare arms and legs and they will crawl into your ears, nose and around your eyes. The flies are not nearly as prevalent in the city, but in the country most folks wear a fly net over their heads when they work outside and in the garden.
Locals tell us that the huge numbers of flies are due to the kangaroo and livestock dung in the fields. The Australian government has been experimenting with importing dung beetles to ameliorate the problem. We are told that they will no longer be a problem once the weather heats up in the summer.