[NatureNS] blackfly bites, or what are they

From: David & Alison Webster <dwebster@glinx.com>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
References: <KGEBLAIFBKJFJMJFLCKPOEIPGMAA.dschlosb-g@ns.sympatico.ca>
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:14:25 -0300
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Hi Jane & All,                    Aug 22, 2010
    No sources other than personal experience. One example of delayed reaction, that I remember from about 1944, is the very itchy rash that can develop from barley hairs; 3-4 days to come into full bloom as I recall. Close encounters with Hordeum jubatum would likely have a similar effect. 

    We have a patch of Cornus stolonifera at one edge of the yard. If I brush against it when sweaty then I develop an itch; nothing when dry.

    I don't wish to jump to rash conclusions-- but I suspect many delayed rashes that are induced by rough plants arise from exposure of living sub-epidermal tissue, by small cuts/abrasions in the epidermis, to spores, pollen, gemmae, bacteria, dust mites etc.   

    My Polygonum scabrum was a case of thinking one plant (Polygonum sagittatum), and saying the other. 

    
Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David&Jane Schlosberg 
  To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca 
  Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 2:48 PM
  Subject: RE: [NatureNS] blackfly bites, or what are they


  Dave, why do you think polygonum scabrum could cause a skin reaction?  It's got a high oxalic acid content, but so do so many other plants.  Also, I've never seen it in the woods, except in places that are sunny enough to grow grass.  My husband has grass allergies, but I don't know of people who are not allergic getting rashes from grass.  Do you have a source for this information?  I wonder if the dry heat lately would make many plants more irritating, as has happened with the members of the carrot family.....
  As for the chiggers theory, I seem to remember from my childhood in Maryland, that chiggers attack under elastic, like waistbands.
  Obviously, this thread has caught the attention of a fair number of us, as we all love to walk in the woods.
  Jane
    -----Original Message-----
    From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca]On Behalf Of David & Alison Webster
    Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 2:17 PM
    To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
    Subject: Re: [NatureNS] blackfly bites, or what are they


    Hi Martin,                Aug 22, 2010
        Because they are localized to lower leg, I would suspect some delayed reaction to a knee-high scabrous plant. Possible candidates; Carex spp., grass, Polygonum scabrum... 
    Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Martin Alpert 
      To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca 
      Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 9:36 AM
      Subject: [NatureNS] blackfly bites, or what are they


      I walked last thurs into North River Fall, in shorts. 
      On my lower leg I had quite a few, what looked like, black fly bites. Some 40 on each leg, randomly spaced - not like I brushed into some noxious plant.
      Usually they are no problem and the next day they are almost gone. 
      These itch a little.
      Today is Sunday and there really red and slightly raised.
      Anybody know what happened? 


      Marty


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<DIV><FONT size=2>Hi Jane &amp; All,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Aug 22, 
2010</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No sources other than personal experience. 
One example of delayed reaction, that I remember from about 1944, is the very 
itchy rash that can develop from barley hairs; 3-4 days to come into full bloom 
as I recall. Close encounters with Hordeum jubatum would likely have a similar 
effect. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We have a patch of Cornus&nbsp;stolonifera 
at one edge of the yard. If I brush&nbsp;against it when sweaty then I develop 
an itch; nothing when dry.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I don't wish to jump to rash conclusions-- 
but I suspect many delayed rashes that are induced by 
rough&nbsp;plants&nbsp;arise from exposure of living sub-epidermal tissue, by 
small cuts/abrasions in the epidermis, to spores, pollen, gemmae, bacteria, dust 
mites etc. &nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My Polygonum scabrum was a case of thinking 
one plant (Polygonum sagittatum), and saying the other. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE 
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV 
  style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> 
  <A title=dschlosb-g@ns.sympatico.ca 
  href="mailto:dschlosb-g@ns.sympatico.ca">David&amp;Jane Schlosberg</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=naturens@chebucto.ns.ca 
  href="mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, August 22, 2010 2:48 
  PM</DIV>
  <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [NatureNS] blackfly bites, 
  or what are they</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=812084017-22082010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 
  face=Arial>Dave, why do you think polygonum scabrum could cause a