aussie salute

It is the specific fly that has given rise to the expression "Aussie salute".

Aussie salute, waving a hand in front of the face to deter flies

It is the Aussie salute.

The Aussie salute can often be seen in outdoor television news reports or interviews, a recent example being a news report by ABC Television on flooding in Eugowra (at the 23 second mark).

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.

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, nasal mucus, saliva, blood and eyes.

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.