topic Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS in Community Chat

MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 17:51:45 GMT

A couple years ago our area had more than our fair share of mosquitos. Last year, slightly better. This year we are being bitten by some invisible bugs that leave welts ... they are definitely not mosquitos.

Did some research and went on the local Nextdoor site for answers. It seems very likely that the mysterious bug is the pesky gnat.

Question ......... does anyone have any experience or suggestions with how to discourage gnats on the terrace, etc? Any plants (such as garlic, lavender or whatever) that discourage these little monsters?

Any and all suggestions welcome!

TIA

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

jlkz — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 17:58:33 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

When at the Jersey shore, after 4PM the fierce, biting "no see'ums" come out. Even if I have a long sleeve shirt, socks and long pants, I get eaten alive. The itch requires a spray to deaden. DH gets left alone and he's sitting right next to me.

Go figure. I have learned to retreat into the house.

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

Annabellethecat66 — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 18:32:43 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 I have that thing that draws in bugs. I live on 1 acre lots. So I have one next to garage door and one near the back porch.

I keep them up until around November.

Recently I noticed a hornet on a screen. I'd had some work done in back (power washing) so it dawned on me the bug things had not been turned back on.

Sure enough...the one closest to the back porch was off.

I turned it back on...bug problem solved.

I gave a friend one of the smaller (1/2 acre) ones. His house and land is actually at least 12-15 acres.

He put it right near where he and his wife sit on their open back porch.

He has an amazing garden every year. I love, I mean really love tomatoes. His are the best I've ever eaten. He keeps me supplied with tomatoes. That was my way of thanking him.

His wife had not been able to sit on their porch or even be in immediately surrounded garden. She would be eaten up by bugs.

Every time I see her she thanks me for the bug thing.

Keep your eye out for when they go on sale.

I don't want to hear you are eaten up by bugs because you are too sweet.

I love reading your posts. Have a great day.

@Tinkrbl44 😘

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

Trailrun23 — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 19:33:16 GMT

Those are no-see-um gnats. You don't see them, but they bite and are so annoying. I keep no-itch cream around and have found mosquito bits ( Amazon )sprinkled around my flowerbed and foundation really helps kill them. I also sprinkle a few in my houseplants. Even if they aren't overwatered, the slightest dampness of the soil seems to attract them.we use soaker hoses, so that brings them out everywhere.

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

drizzellla — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 16:02:27 GMT

We have no see'ums. And we make sure to not go in our backyard, as @jlkz said after

4 PM.

It is such a shame we bought nice outdoor furniture. We intended to eat dinner outside once in awhile. Have not done it in years. Didn't want to spray anything in the backyard because of our dog.

And now that we no longer have the dog, we aren't in the habit of even using our backyard. We even moved our vegetable garden to the front of the house by the garage.

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

occasionalrain — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 18:48:17 GMT

I have bird feeders and the birds take care of the outdoor bugs. I wouldn't spray and chance killing bees and other desirable insects My issue this year is a hoard of fruit flies that have invaded my kitchen. I've not had them others years and no idea why they're here this year.

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

Jacie — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 18:54:25 GMT

We tried all the natural stuff and still would get bit. Mosquitoes don't care for me but gnats and nosee-ums are another story. We ended up getting Thermacell units and use them regularly. Can be purchased on Amazon. Home Depot and many hardware stores. They do work.

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 20:01:30 GMT

@Annabellethecat66

Nice to see you on here ...... What's the thing you have called?

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 20:04:56 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
We have no see'ums. And we make sure to not go in our backyard, as @jlkz said after
4 PM.

It is such a shame we bought nice outdoor furniture. We intended to eat dinner outside once in awhile. Have not done it in years. Didn't want to spray anything in the backyard because of our dog.

And now that we no longer have the dog, we aren't in the habit of even using our backyard. We even moved our vegetable garden to the front of the house by the garage.

@drizzellla

When I was doing research for dealing with mosquitos in non-chemical ways, one suggestion that kept coming up was to have a small oscillating fan fanning the area the people are in.

Since even the Low setting can be much more wind than a small flying bug can manage, you don't need chemicals. The bugs just blow away.... nice thought, isn't it?

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

drizzellla — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 21:00:45 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@drizzellla wrote:
We have no see'ums. And we make sure to not go in our backyard, as @jlkz said after
4 PM.

It is such a shame we bought nice outdoor furniture. We intended to eat dinner outside once in awhile. Have not done it in years. Didn't want to spray anything in the backyard because of our dog.

And now that we no longer have the dog, we aren't in the habit of even using our backyard. We even moved our vegetable garden to the front of the house by the garage.
@drizzellla

When I was doing research for dealing with mosquitos in non-chemical ways, one suggestion that kept coming up was to have a small oscillating fan fanning the area the people are in.

Since even the Low setting can be much more wind than a small flying bug can manage, you don't need chemicals. The bugs just blow away.... nice thought, isn't it?

Interesting. But makes alot of sense, The no see'ums are so tiny, you can understand that they can't handle any breeze.

We put several birdfeeders in the back yard. There always seems to be various birds on the birdfeeders. So if we do go in the backyard we make all the birds fly away.

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

jlkz — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 21:53:01 GMT

@drizzellla

Years ago we did the citronella thing when we tried to have dinner out on the patio. Didn't work out.

A few years ago while visiting the Amish area in Lancaster, PA, we fell in love with the screened in double- facing swing. It had small table tops built into the corners. DH cut wood so we could slide it over the swing arms. Now we can eat in peace at night and have morning coffee free from bees and other insects.

We cover it with a tarp wrapped around the sides. MIT is hung under the wrap around roof edge.

Kind of expensive for keeping bugs out but it is very relaxing anytime of the day or night !

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

drizzellla — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 02:04:19 GMT

@jlkz wrote:
@drizzellla

Years ago we did the citronella thing when we tried to have dinner out on the patio. Didn't work out.

A few years ago while visiting the Amish area in Lancaster, PA, we fell in love with the screened in double- facing swing. It had small table tops built into the corners. DH cut wood so we could slide it over the swing arms. Now we can eat in peace at night and have morning coffee free from bees and other insects.

We cover it with a tarp wrapped around the sides. MIT is hung under the wrap around roof edge.

Kind of expensive for keeping bugs out but it is very relaxing anytime of the day or night !

The table and 4 benches were built by the Amish. And we also have a swing in the front. Guess we will have to go and check out other items. I did not pick out any of the furniture my husband bought. He dealt with an Amish guy at work and ordered a number of things from him.

We will have to see what he has.

Last weekend was my husband's family reunion. His cousin who hosts the reunions every year had an Amish guy put an addition on his house. He also had his kitchen expanded, dining room expanded, additional bathroom added and another entrance to the house. I sat and could not believe what an impressive job was done. And the cousin was saying the guy made suggestions that really worked out well. The Amish guy thought of things that made the additions flow that the cousin never thought of. Wish he lived closer I was ready to hire him.

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

Another new name Sue — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 02:21:32 GMT

Something bit me on the upper chest (can't spell decollete or whatever) a couple weeks ago and it's still a red, itchy welt. Maybe one of the no=see-ums.

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 02:45:14 GMT

@jlkz wrote:
@drizzellla

Years ago we did the citronella thing when we tried to have dinner out on the patio. Didn't work out.

A few years ago while visiting the Amish area in Lancaster, PA, we fell in love with the screened in double- facing swing. It had small table tops built into the corners. DH cut wood so we could slide it over the swing arms. Now we can eat in peace at night and have morning coffee free from bees and other insects.

We cover it with a tarp wrapped around the sides. MIT is hung under the wrap around roof edge.

Kind of expensive for keeping bugs out but it is very relaxing anytime of the day or night !

@jlkz

A while back I was researching the "bug" thing and I believe it was either Consumers Repts or HGTV that also said citronella doesn't work.

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

LuvSoCal — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 04:25:50 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 Oh my gosh, what a timely post. I have been eaten alive the last three summers (mostly my ankles and feet). I have been close to tears at times because the itching is almost unbearable. I go through Benadryl cream like it's going out of style. My dermatologist told me she was 99.9% sure the welts were the result of bug bites. The results of a biopsy came back as non-specific.

I've heard that mosquitoes have gotten vicious but I never realized that gnats bite, too. I've read that mosquitoes avoid the scent of garlic, and, apparently, there are sprays that discourage them. I'll be very interested to learn of any solutions, as well. May I ask what area of the country do you live in?

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 07:21:25 GMT

@LuvSoCal wrote:
@Tinkrbl44 Oh my gosh, what a timely post. I have been eaten alive the last three summers (mostly my ankles and feet). I have been close to tears at times because the itching is almost unbearable. I go through Benadryl cream like it's going out of style. My dermatologist told me she was 99.9% sure the welts were the result of bug bites. The results of a biopsy came back as non-specific.

I've heard that mosquitoes have gotten vicious but I never realized that gnats bite, too. I've read that mosquitoes avoid the scent of garlic, and, apparently, there are sprays that discourage them. I'll be very interested to learn of any solutions, as well. May I ask what area of the country do you live in?

@LuvSoCal

I'm in the Greater Los Angeles area .... and have been taking garlic capsules for the last 3 months, thinking I had the mosquito thing handled. I was so smug that I had the problem beaten!

That was last week.

This week, I've had umpteen bug bites from literally invisible bugs. These bites aren't like mosquito bites ... they are large, inflamed welts that hurt more than itch. Went over and talked to my pharmacist and also googled "pics of gnat bites on humans". The pictures clinched it.

So ... while Benadryl cream is helpful, if I am at home I use a paste of baking soda & water, which really soothes the bite. Problem is, there's little hunks of baking soda falling off my legs and looks silly, but is oh so soothing.

OH ... one more tips that I haven't tried .... supposedly rubbing dryer sheets on bare arms & legs helps, or you can stuff a couple in your pockets, and is supposed to help. This is a situation where you keep trying everything ... until something helps.

BTW .... Walmart has a generic of the Extra Strength Benedryl cream ... it's $3.00 a tube.

Based on your nickname, I have to ask ..... do you live in SoCal?

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

jlkz — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 11:41:06 GMT

@drizzellla

The Amish have a great reputation for excellent workmanship. Not surprised at the quality of the work you described. A very nit-picky former acquaintance of mine simply raved about the interior construction, speed and daily cleanup by the two contractors she hired.

I would recommend getting brochures or online pictures of the pieces available. You will get more than you pay for, quality-wise.

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

jlkz — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 12:05:17 GMT

@Another new name Sue

Your spelling is correct...in French there are 2 accent marks over the first and last " e's ". Might be easier to use décolletage.

My concern: please see your PCP about the weeks-old itchy welt. If it's lime disease, it needs medication.

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

jlkz — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 12:06:04 GMT

@Another new name Sue

Your spelling is correct...in French there are 2 accent marks over the first and last " e's ". Might be easier to use décolletage.

My concern: please see your PCP about the weeks-old itchy welt. If it's lime disease, it needs medication.

Re: MOSQUITOS, GNATS & OTHER BITING BUGS

Jacie — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 13:44:13 GMT

Another DIY bite soother, make a paste of powdered meat tenderizer and water, then rub it on your bite. Voila. No itch or pain.