Nairobi Fly

Nairobi Fly on the dish rack.

We have lots of bugs in muggy Tanzania. When you see a bug you smack it. Whether it be annoying flying ants, a biting red ant, or a disgusting cockroach, you don't inspect the victim but instead reach for your left flipflop (because you're right handed) and quickly kill it.

Not so with this bug... Introducing the Nairobi Fly. 

Our not-so-friendly critter.

This one you don't smack carelessly. 

If it's gastric juices get onto your skin you will swell so much that your throat will close up. A run to the nearest hospital is a must to get proper medication via an IV.

Just kidding.

But... you will get a red, bumpy, and itchy sore that spreads if the gastric juices touch your skin. The sore is called a Nairobi Eye. The only way for the sore to heal is to leave it alone, and that is very hard for little girls to do. If you scratch it and then scratch some place else, you will be dealing with two sores shortly. 

They are easy to identify with their red-black-red exterior but they are fairly small. This one was a big one at almost 1 cm. The last black little tip will sometimes curl up and when it does the bug resembles a miniature scorpion. =)