country living... bug bites

[stumpfield]

How do you deal with bug bites living in the country? Is this something you have to live with? During the summer months, every time we visit, we always come back with bug bites all over our arms, legs, neck and all exposed parts of the body. We didn't notice any mosquito or anything obvious. Just after a few days, the bites will show. I hate to spray stuff all over my body and not sure if that of any help. Any sugguestions???

 

[Bird]

I don't know about your part of the country, but around here that would sound like chiggers, and spraying insecticides such as Deep Woods Off or permitherin on your shoes, socks, pants legs, etc. will usually keep them off.

 

[tallyho8]

I agree with Bird but I prefer Repel to Off.

 

[EddieWalker]

Deet is the active ingredient that keeps them all away. I read the label for the highest percentage of it, then buy that brand.

Keeping the grass mowed really short helps, but until you get a good freeze, nothing short of chemicals is going to help. Usually allot of chemicals!!!

Here, we have fire ants, which I'm told killed off all the chiggers, but when I've been down towards San Antonio, I was hit hard by the chiggers AND fire ants.

My current first aid solution is Gold Bond. This changes, and I'm not sure why that is. After awhile, what I've been using doesn't do it for me anymore, so I start trying something new.

Wasps are worse!!! Here, we have several types of wasps and they can be pretty scarry. I got hit by one a few weeks ago right between my eyes. I knew the nest was there, but had sort of forgotten about it until I saw them. Even after a dozen of them started flying around, I tried to get closer to see where the nest was. One of them came right at me and got me good!!! By the end of the day, tha pain was gone and I had pretty much forgotton about the sting. Then the next morning, I woke up with the skin under my eyes swollen up so bad that I could barely see. By noon, that was down and I was able to get to the job I was working on.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[stumpfield]

I don't know about your part of the country, but around here that would sound like chiggers, and spraying insecticides such as Deep Woods Off or permitherin on your shoes, socks, pants legs, etc. will usually keep them off.

Thanks Bird. That's it. Chiggers. If we live there full time, we can't be spraying ourselves with insecticides everyday do we? Is this something you get use to and the body becomes immune to the bites? The local neighbors don't seem to get any bites and they hang around the same area we do.

 

[PILOON]

My next door neighbor (passed on) was research director for Union Carbide and as such he held over 200 patents.
They have the patents for raid, deet amongst other products.
Over a 'coolade' he once told me that their research showed that vitamin C was most effective, but could not be patented.
His recommendations were to rub the rinds of orange peels on the exposed skin as well as to take doses of Redoxin the night before.
Also NEVER to use scented soaps, perfumes and wash hair with non scented shampoos.
Also wearing light colors helps immensely.

Works for me!

Note that at that time we were mainly discussing black flies, skitters, horse and deer flies.

 

[cowboy357]

This is a fairly lengthy read but well worth the time IMO . Bob

Chiggers!

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks Bird. That's it. Chiggers. If we live there full time, we can't be spraying ourselves with insecticides everyday do we? Is this something you get use to and the body becomes immune to the bites? The local neighbors don't seem to get any bites and they hang around the same area we do.

We don't get chiggers unless we stand around in tall grass with shorts on. That's just asking for it.

We have a big mosquito problem. During the day out in the yard you only see a couple now and then. But if you go to the edge of the yard where it meets the woods, you will see more. And in the evening, when the breeze settles down, they move out of the woods and bushes and come into the yard around the pool and deck. So, if you want to go outside, you have to either wear long pants and long sleeves(don't forget long socks) and sit near a bug candle or put on some bug spray.

We found this brand of OFF Insect repellent for outdoor protection from bites by OFF! that actually smells pretty nice. The spray can is only 15% deet and it works pretty well, but doesn't last more than an hour or so on you skin if you are sweating. If it is on you clothes, it works for a long time. They also have it in a pump that is 30% deet. We send that with our daughter that is on the golf team (she hits into the ruff a lot ). The other night my youngest daughter and I sprayed down some hooded sweat shirt jackets with this stuff, then sprayed our legs, zipped up and tied the hoods and went black rasperry picking. She was amazed that the mosquitos would be flying around and if she moved her sleeve towards them, they flew away.

 

[MossRoad]

One other note....

Listerine. My goofy brother-in-law who works as a heavy equipment operator says all of the laborers have started taking Listerine mouth wash, opening the bottle, putting their finger over the opening and wetting it, then touching a drop to each shoulder, elbow, wrist, chest, stomach, butt cheeks, thighs, knees and ankles, then one on top of their head. They swear it acts as an insect repellent. They say the mosquitoes fly around them but do not land.

Has anyone heard of this? I think they may have bee drinking it!

 

[Kays Supply]

I work in constuction and in the yard. I have been plagued with chiggers forever. My son's girlfriend is a hair stylist. They sell a line of men's products made by Redken. She got me started using it one Christmas as a present. I noticed that my father would be covered with chigger bites after a day in the yard. I wouldn't have a bite. I got to checking and the soap contains citronellol. After getting on the web I found it was one of the best natural insect repellants. I have since really put it to a test and so far not a nibble.
I may be crazy but my athlete's foot problem has gone away as well.