Eilat Residents Blame Stinging Flies for Summer Itch, Not Mosquitoes

As Eilat enters its beach season, tourists are complaining about intense itching that many assume comes from mosquitoes or waterborne pests. Residents say the real problem is a recurring annual infestation of stinging flies, which they describe as a long-running nuisance across the city, especially in the summer heat.

One local wrote on Facebook that Eilat deserves the nickname “the city of flies,” saying they are everywhere most of the year and make it impossible to sit in a cafe, drink at a bar, or even walk through neighborhoods. Another resident said it is “just awful” and that people cannot sit outside for even a minute, including on beaches, in parks and in playgrounds.

Prof. Yuval Gottlieb-Dror of the Hebrew University’s Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment in Jerusalem said the insects are likely stable flies, or Stomoxys calcitrans, which resemble houseflies but belong to a different species. She stressed that flies and mosquitoes do not sting like bees. Mosquitoes use a proboscis to suck blood, while these flies pierce the skin with mouthparts to feed. They are most active in hot months because they are cold-blooded, and they breed in humid areas with decaying organic material.

The flies mainly target cattle, but they can also bite humans to get the protein and nutrients they need. Eilat city officials have identified orchards as a major attraction for the insects, along with meat trucks traveling to and from ranches in the Arava. Gottlieb-Dror said there is no single definite cause. She also noted that some people are more attractive to mosquitoes because of molecules they emit, their biology, breathing condition, health, and even what they ate. Her advice for visitors who want to avoid itching is to carry a strong mosquito repellent and avoid heat, humidity, and open organic trash.