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Post by Clinton Cool on Jul 7, 2017 6:51:29 GMT
Considering I live on the water, I get very little trouble from midges and mosquitos. Surprising really because when I go to Scotland I get terrorised. The ones I hate, and there are lots of them this year, are flower bugs. They tend to be around grassy areas rather than where there are trees. If there's a field with cattle, watch out, these critters will be here! They are around 3/4" long, brown in colour. Quite docile flies but they land without you feeling them. 2 or 3 seconds later they bite, you'll definitely feel it. They are easy to kill but by then the damage is done. The itching lasts 2 or 3 days. Beware!
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Post by quaysider on Jul 7, 2017 7:34:55 GMT
I'm in the same boat Bettina (every pun intended)... Andy is bite free but I get covered - and I don't notice them until the next day when I've inadvertantly scractched them in the night. Luckily, INSIDE the boat I'm ok as we bought these and put them over all the portholes: www.bugsout.co.uk/product-360/gallery/I also made some screens for the side hatches... HOWEVER. when I'm outside I may as well have a sign on my head saying "get your gorgeous fire-engline blonde blood here"... The trouble with most of the topical repellents is they melt plastics and feel awful on the skin - I HAVE noticed that that some of the fake aftershave lotions seem to do the trick if sprayed quite liberally... denat or deet in them. MAYBE the solution is a Burka - gorgeous as I am, I doubt I could pull that off though!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2017 9:06:09 GMT
I suffer from hayfever so take one-a-day anti histamine tablets, and Beconaise nasal spray. I occasionally get bitten, but do not suffer any excessive reaction. Jane meanwhile, suffers very dramatic reactions, and invariably the first time she is bitten each spring her leg or arm swells alarmingly. Jane has taken to pinching my one-a-day anti histamines as a preventative measure, and also liberally applying anti histamine bite cream instantly she is aware of contact. We have never found an effective preventative for the little bas*****, sorry. But never mind, it'll soon be winter and we'll all be worrying about ice again Take care Rog
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2017 10:33:45 GMT
Thanks for all the replies folks, I'll pick up some antihistamines along with the citronella candles and see if that helps. Just to clarify...are you guys all saying that you've not noticed a massive increase in the little bitting bastards this year? If this is the case than it must be something to do with the meds or I've suddenly picked up an alergy Since getting out of the hospital we've been down to Marsworth and are now on a slow journey up to Stoke Bruerne, but it doesn't seem to matter where we are or where we moor the little blighters are everywhere! I would definitely say there has been an increase in midges this year in this country. I normally don't notice them much in this country but definitely do in France/Italy. We are currently in Somerset and I am sporting a good few bites because I was caught unawares. I have no wish to teach granny to suck eggs but just a reminder to check any drug interactions with existing meds.
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Post by naughtyfox on Jul 7, 2017 10:44:43 GMT
I thought it was Johnson's Baby Lotion people swear by. Anyone here found sheep ticks on their legs?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2017 10:52:10 GMT
I thought it was Johnson's Baby Lotion people swear by. Anyone here found sheep ticks on their legs? No it was the Avon stuff, sadly it had to effect on me so i have reverted to some of the specific insect repellents. I got a particularly good one in Italy last year called Zcare. Combined with the citronella candles from Lidl at €1 each I had a virtually bite free holiday and that was whilst pitched at the edge of Lake Como.
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Post by bettina on Jul 7, 2017 17:56:38 GMT
thanks for that Chagall Not close enought to a large shop or drug store for me to walk to it, but Dave will be picking up my prescriptons on Tues or Wed, I'll ask him to pick some up for me. ** what makes you think I don't already smell nice?
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Post by bettina on Jul 7, 2017 18:08:32 GMT
I'm in the same boat Bettina (every pun intended)... Andy is bite free but I get covered - and I don't notice them until the next day when I've inadvertantly scractched them in the night. Luckily, INSIDE the boat I'm ok as we bought these and put them over all the portholes: www.bugsout.co.uk/product-360/gallery/I also made some screens for the side hatches... HOWEVER. when I'm outside I may as well have a sign on my head saying "get your gorgeous fire-engline blonde blood here"... The trouble with most of the topical repellents is they melt plastics and feel awful on the skin - I HAVE noticed that that some of the fake aftershave lotions seem to do the trick if sprayed quite liberally... denat or deet in them. MAYBE the solution is a Burka - gorgeous as I am, I doubt I could pull that off though! That looks like a wonderful thing, if only they produced them for hopper style windows as well as portholes. But in reality, they wouldn't be much use to me; unless it is really peeing it down with rain, I have both front & rear doors and the side hatch open from the time I get up till the time I go to bed...must have the breeze blowing through I meant to add... Dave was doing the engine service yesterday and also trying to figure out why the largest of our alternators is not working properly (actually it's not working at all now) he said he felt a something bite him, but looking at it this morning it looks like he was bit by Mexician Killer Bee. The bite is on the side of his foot, but the swelling goes around to the front of his foot as well, the bump is about the size of his ankle! Maybe he shouldn't have teased me so much about my bites
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Post by patty on Jul 8, 2017 6:22:41 GMT
Ouch..keep an eye on it cos if horsefly they can turn nasty
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Post by Jim on Jul 11, 2017 10:02:17 GMT
I blame foreign midgeys, sneaking in in their millions before we shut the doors.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2017 10:16:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2017 10:19:34 GMT
Just to add that stable flies are bloody difficult to catch out. They seem to be psychic. . They are also seem to delight in giving you the chase around. Little buggers....grrrr..
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Post by bettina on Jul 11, 2017 13:01:58 GMT
Ok, thank you for the link, made for an interesting read; however.....I'm now itchy all over!
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Post by patty on Jul 11, 2017 13:25:40 GMT
I don't normally get bittern however there must be a new midge on the block..feet itch..arms itch...I blame the Welsh
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2017 13:27:23 GMT
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