At this time of the year (mid-summer) sand flies are a problem for dogs and humans alike. For dogs, sandflies that congregate in green grass cause the most trouble as the flies burrow into the dogs fur and then bite repeatedly causing an intense itch.
Consequently, we try to limit the time Del and Major spend on grass, but this is difficult because they love nothing better than gnawing on their bones while lying on grass.
For humans, walking through the low coastal vegetation lining the track to the beach almost always results in some bites. Whenever I'm bitten, each and every bite forms a large lump of intense itchiness. I feel sympathy for the dogs who don't understand the cause/effect and tend to scratch to the degree of damaging their skin -- which can lead to bacterial infection.
Phillip Island in southern Victoria and Mitchell in outback Queensland -- although so far apart -- both have a sandfly problem at this time of the year; but in Mitchell it's more severe.
Like all Australians we await the arrival of the worst-ever cyclone to hit our coastline. One of my brothers lives alone in the mountains behind Cooktown and when I spoke to him this morning he was both philosophical and fatalistic. Tonight is the night when the worst will happen. We hold our breath and keep in mind the safety of loved ones.
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