Tiny flys or mosquitoes - Page 2

I will look for this when back in Uk, it seems our problem is mosquitos not midges as described earlier by Anne, these are noisy buzzing buggers which we can see. We,ve had home for 14years and never been bitten this much. Just today my hubby has another 5 bites. His poor legs are covered in red angry blotches which are agonisingly itchy. Most non deet repellants simply use citronella as a deterrent which I,ve already added that essential oil to lotions as mineral oil products dont agree with my skin causing prickly heat in the sun. Our land is covered in 80% rosemary plants which are also supposed to deter mossies but definitely havent found  that to be true either.

Regards

Pauline.

Yes. I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve been bitten to death today also. I’ve been all round the Med including North Africa and the Sahara Desert. Never been bitten like this. 

I think the head mosquito is putting propaganda around that they don’t like lemon/ citronella etc, as it has shares in the companies that sell it!! They love it! I’ve sprayed with loads of different makes and I swear it attracts them. 

Don’t know what else to subject my skin to to deter them, but if anyone knows anything that a) works and b) you can get hold of DO PLEASE LET US ALL IN ON THE SECRET 🙏

Thanks for the smile :-))  

Like you I hope that someone can come up with a definitive answer.

However, I spoke to researcher in the Mozzie Science Labs and she told me that there is NO deterent!  :-((  They live short life spans - rapid generation renewal - and adapt accordingly.   I'd been bitten by tiger mozzies and had a swollen face and with the danger of dengue fever contacted the science labs directly. 

BUT one thing that does enable you to swat the little buggers..... keep your laptop or iPad open on your lap.  They are highly attracted to the screen light,,,,,then swat, swat swat.   Oh and use a mozzie net over the beds... on window and outer doors.

Prevention is better than cure.

Find out where the mozzies are breeding.

Any source of still water & they can breed. 

From a stagnant pool of water to an inch in a discarded soft drinks can.

If you do get bitten treat it immediately & if you get bitten several times take an antihistamine tablet.

They’re no-see-ums!, & absolute nightmare. You don’t feel the bite until some time afterwards. Ferocious Itch lasts for ages too!, sometimes over a week . 

Can’t offer any additional prevention except cover up when working outside. Especially the gaps around waist and ankles!  Try the impregnated patches on clothing & plastic wrist bands too.. Lidl’s 

Be sure to remove all clothing .. (can stay on your clothing.). & shower ASAP . 

Apply to exposed skin:

Deet based repellent works best. Expensive & not good for you as daily use. 

Lidl’s black magic - 

Avon skin-so-soft- 

Treatment for itching .. hot water .. hot as you can stand .. shower easiest. Will calm the itching. Hair dryer also works! Anti.itch creams afterwards . Try not to scratch . !?! 

I tried every natural combination for our garden when we first arrived. Eventually resorted to spraying chemicals .. (livestock shops). You have to keep area clean .no problem in garden now for years.. grow lavender , & other repellent herbs . 

Bienvenido a España! 

b

Taking brewers yeast does something to the blood that mozzies don’t like.
I was told to use toothpaste on a bite. It takes the sting away straight away. Luckily I don’t get bitten but you could try it. 

Thanks so much all of you for your advice. Anne’s info particularly interesting and tending to think it’s about right. 

Problem is I’ve tried it all. Check garden each day for any water/potential egg laying sites. 

The Farmacia told me it’s not the best thing to take tablets, rather use external treatments. The cream he gave me didn’t help. 

I have found the best treatment is either a hot teaspoon or rub with alcohol (cheap from supermarket) then rub vigorously with salt. Does the trick but I’d love just one day where I don’t have to go through this ritual! 

Can honestly say Camposol is the only place I have been bitten like this  Everywhere else I’ve had the odd bite over the years.

I will be seriously thinking of moving, taking into account a few other dislikes which I dare not mention as there are too many of you who worship the place!!

I,ve tried the lot, and have rosemary everywhere, (supposed to repel) but nothing works. They cant be no seeums, must be mossies as we can see them in the sun and in the dark and they buzz loudly especially round our ears. Its impossible to garb up in 30+° heat during the day and I found your ankles and writs remark so funny. I garden in my bikini, otherwise a t shirt overheated me and was wet through in minutes, so my body is ripe for the picking(or biting). Yes Deet did help a bit but too expensive and maybe unhealthy for everyday use. I will add lavender oil into my sprays as citronella doesnt seem to be doing the job and try that.

I did have a thought, late last year we had new metal gutters replaced and added 6 water butts (no tops for them) and they are full again after some rain yesterday. They have remained half full since March,s heavy rains, could these be exacerbating the breeding.? Still water, but we have problem all over our 5k sq ft of land not just around house. We have tall weeds everywhere, and weedkiller useless so trying to pull out ready to burn.

Regards

Pauline

Very likely to be in the water butts.

Ideal breeding place.

I think that if you put a teaspoon of cooking oil into each one the oil stops them breathing.

Oil On Water

Well we thought of getting a water butt to obviously save water when you get a downpour, but our neighbours (who have lived here 15 yrs or so) told us it’s illegal, for the very reason that it’s mozzy breeding ground, even covered, and if caught you will be fined!