Aussie Salute
Encyclopedia
The Aussie salute, also known as the Barcoo salute (after the Barcoo River
) or Bush salute is the waving of one's hand in front of the face at regular intervals in order to prevent bush flies from landing on it, or entering one's nose or mouth. Pianka
characterizes it as a gesture that is "diagnostic of Australia
". The bush fly (Musca vetustissima
), is the species that is the cause of the Aussie salute as opposed to other flies such as the housefly
, as the bush fly is attracted to bodily fluids such as sweat
, snot, saliva
, blood
and eyes. The Aussie salute can often be seen in outdoor television news reports or interviews, a recent example being a news report by the ABC Television
on flooding in Eugowra (at the 23 second mark). A video of an American
tourist visiting Melbourne
and repeatedly doing the Aussie salute (at the 6 and 18 second marks and at 2:23, 2:25, 2:30) and accidentally swallowing a fly (at the 22 second mark) appeared on Youtube
in 2007. Historically in Australia, the cork hat
was worn to discourage flies but has been replaced by insect repellent
s and mesh masks in areas where the flies swarm
.
Bush flies are disease vectors, since they walk on dung and on carrion
, and if not prevented from doing so can lead to infection
s, including eye infections such as "sandy blight". Pianka reports that the Aussie salute is effective only as long as the flies are not too sticky, and that once a fly has tasted sweat, hand waving is generally useless at encouraging it to leave, with physically wiping the fly off being required.
Barcoo River
The Barcoo River in western Queensland, Australia that rises on the northern slopes of the Warrego Range, flows in a south westerly direction and unites with the Thomson River to form Cooper Creek. The first European to see the river was Thomas Mitchell in 1846, who named it Victoria Stream...
) or Bush salute is the waving of one's hand in front of the face at regular intervals in order to prevent bush flies from landing on it, or entering one's nose or mouth. Pianka
Eric Pianka
Eric Rodger Pianka is an American biologist, whose work includes herpetology and evolutionary ecology. His textbook, Evolutionary Ecology is considered a classic, and his writings for the general public and television appearances have made him an influential figure.-Youth:Pianka was born in...
characterizes it as a gesture that is "diagnostic of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
". The bush fly (Musca vetustissima
Musca vetustissima
Musca vetustissima — commonly known as the Australian bush fly — is a species of fly found in Australia. It is the specific fly that has given rise to the expression "Aussie salute".- Description :...
), is the species that is the cause of the Aussie salute as opposed to other flies such as the housefly
Housefly
The housefly , Musca domestica, is a fly of the suborder Cyclorrhapha...
, as the bush fly is attracted to bodily fluids such as sweat
SWEAT
SWEAT is an OLN/TSN show hosted by Julie Zwillich that aired in 2003-2004.Each of the 13 half-hour episodes of SWEAT features a different outdoor sport: kayaking, mountain biking, ice hockey, beach volleyball, soccer, windsurfing, rowing, Ultimate, triathlon, wakeboarding, snowboarding, telemark...
, snot, saliva
Saliva
Saliva , referred to in various contexts as spit, spittle, drivel, drool, or slobber, is the watery substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is a component of oral fluid. In mammals, saliva is produced in and secreted from the three pairs of major salivary glands,...
, blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
and eyes. The Aussie salute can often be seen in outdoor television news reports or interviews, a recent example being a news report by the ABC Television
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
on flooding in Eugowra (at the 23 second mark). A video of an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tourist visiting Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and repeatedly doing the Aussie salute (at the 6 and 18 second marks and at 2:23, 2:25, 2:30) and accidentally swallowing a fly (at the 22 second mark) appeared on Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
in 2007. Historically in Australia, the cork hat
Cork hat
A cork hat is a type of headgear with cork strung from the brim, to ward off insects.Traditionally worn by jackaroos and swagmen in the blow-fly infested Australian outback, the cork hat has become part of the stereotypical representation of the Australian ocker. The shape and material of cork hats...
was worn to discourage flies but has been replaced by insect repellent
Insect repellent
An insect repellent is a substance applied to skin, clothing, or other surfaces which discourages insects from landing or climbing on that surface. There are also insect repellent products available based on sound production, particularly ultrasound...
s and mesh masks in areas where the flies swarm
Swarm
Swarm behaviour, or swarming, is a collective behaviour exhibited by animals of similar size which aggregate together, perhaps milling about the same spot or perhaps moving en masse or migrating in some direction. As a term, swarming is applied particularly to insects, but can also be applied to...
.
Bush flies are disease vectors, since they walk on dung and on carrion
Carrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
, and if not prevented from doing so can lead to infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
s, including eye infections such as "sandy blight". Pianka reports that the Aussie salute is effective only as long as the flies are not too sticky, and that once a fly has tasted sweat, hand waving is generally useless at encouraging it to leave, with physically wiping the fly off being required.