The heatwave in North Queensland has brought out hordes of suckers. A woman showering found herself under attack by about 10 March Flies all intent on sucking some part of her body . Wrapped in a towel, she dashed dripping into the kitchen and got the fly spray, some of the daid critters shown here .
On Magnetic Island , our Shipping Reporter , held up at a rare traffic light installed to enable repair work on a wooden walkway munched by whiteants , was himself attacked by the flies which flew in through the open car windows . He sat there beating off the persistant pests , some of which went for his legs, with his hat ; while whacking them , a large moth flew in and disappeared under the passenger seat . It would have made a good setting for a Hitchcock horror movie .
Backpackers walking about the island and tourists travelling in topless cars made easy targets, much slapping and squealing resulting .
A garden party at the Germanic Queen of the Jungle's residence resulted in scores of the flies being swatted by guests on their lederhosen, like a scene from a drunken Oktoberfest. Down at Horseshoe Bay , smaller, but equally vicious , striped Zebra Flies , hooked on haemoglobin , made their presence known.
