2010 - an exceptionally bad year for bites....?

[Purplepixii]

Was wondering if anyone else is suffering badly from bites this year (mosquito's I think)?

I always suffer badly but this year is worse than ever! I have 3 bites on the left side of my body which I've got overnight during the past week (I sleep on my right so my left side has been uncovered). The bite near my waist is the least itchy at the moment but the 2 on my left leg are agony! All 3 have developed bruises near them which I've never noticed in previous years. One in particular on my leg is driving me absolutely nuts & appears heavily bruised

I'm taking anti-histamine tablets & ibuprofen to relieve the swelling/itching and I have hydrocortisone cream but nothing seems to help I'm also burning citronella candles wherever I go & I've ordered net/mesh to cover one of the windows in my bedroom so I don't have to close it & can get fresh air during the night.

Annoyingly there are mosquito larvae in my pond - the temptation to euthanize them is great I can tell you!!!!

Anyone else suffering worse this year than previous?

Pixii

[artdemole]

Suffered bites when it was warm, but since using lemon balm plant it has not been so much.Also been using more garlic in dips and salads.

[Cowgirl]

Darnit just pulled up a lemon balm plant which was threatening to take over my front flower bed.

Artdemole, do you mean you rub the lemon balm plant on yourself or just growing it in your garden discourages them?

Got my first bite last night, they're late this year!

A lifetime sufferer (they kick people aside to get to me!)!

Purple pixie, just wait until the bites turn watery & start oozing yellowish fluid yuk!!!!

[artdemole]

Rub leaves on to release oil and scent.Should help. Have a look at herbs2000.com Or just type lemon balm insect repellent into search bar.

[dampflippers]

I find a bite pen much better than antihistamine creams like anthisan.
Dot it on, it hurts but then it gives relief.

They say taking vitamin B may help making you less tasty.

[Brocakat]

I seem to beleive that one can buy clothing that is impregnated with certain
chemicals that disssuade flying insects from landing & biting.

Anyone else heard about such materials?

However - whilst such bites are an darned irritating nuisance - the most deadly and under-exposed disease today that one can literally 'catch' from a bite is - Lymes Disease. This disease is caught off the same ticks that wait
at the ends of undergrowth in woods and moorland from Spring until Autumn
- for a passing deer or sheep. Or person.

I implore everone on here to take serious precautions against these ticks
( one gradually crawled for over two days from my outer-wear to underneath my underwear & then proceeded to quietly have a blood-meal ) - they are stealthy and it is best if one has a friend so that they can look on your back, etc etc & remove the tick (s) before they get down to it.

I'd be intersted in hearing Chris Packhams views on this particular beauty.

[Miss Caretaker]

My husband used to work in Africa and the locals there swore by drinking tonic water. Any excuse for a G&T!

[stripee]

I use a neem based spray which I carry around in case a top up is needed. It works against mosquitoes, midges and horseflies by disguising smell. Which is probably how lemon balm, citronella and garlic works too I would imagine.

It can be bought in health shops its called A.Vogel. I never go out without it!

[Dorts]

Here in Snowdonia midges are the worst they have been for many a year.
We normally get the evening Midge of theCulicoides variety, but this year, for the first time we are plagued with clouds of the tiniest species, biting everything in sight all day long. We have horses and they are absolutely beside themselves with them.

There is only one thing that I know works and thats to buy a 'Midge Buster', (unfortunately, at around a £1000 each we may have to wait!)
Many people round here now have them and according to them it's -
midge problem solved.

[seamusagleann]

has been really bad here ,this summer ,so bad in fact they sent a news team to the local campsite!
BBC News - Midges are back and worse than ever