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Bites in the garden

My wife has started to get nasty bites that form large red patches then bruises. It started after dusk but now happens during the day. She can no longer go into the garden. Strangely, they don't bite me. She may be having an adverse reaction but what could they be? Nothing is visable. And are they associated with any know plants? Any thoughts? 

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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    Check the garden and get rid of any pots or containers of standing water ... even a teacup or saucer contains enough water for mosquitoes to breed.

    Get her some Avon Skin So Soft spray ... the lemon scented one ... she should use it as her regular daily skin lotion ... it keeps the mosquitoes... even the British Army use it ... you can buy it online. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090

    Boots One-a-day antihistamines help too.  I get bitten by mozzies, horse flies, ants and have reactions to plants like sticky bud so I take a daily anti-histamine and also use an insect spray before working in certain parts of the garden.- - cows and calves at one end and horses at the other and wild bits in between.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    Avon sss (original) works. I can actually go down the end of my garden now!

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • InglezinhoInglezinho Posts: 568

    Speaking as a rainforest dweller, the only surefire prevention is long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt. Might be a bit sweaty but is better than the alternative!

    Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    Needs to be a thick closely-woven material

    ive been bitten through clothing in the uk image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • I'd like to add to Pansyface's comment: my wife & I have each been bitten by Shield Bugs (generic) whilst pottering in our West Wales (coastal) garden & in haymeadows (alms) in Austria. When it's warm enough for them to fly, the little rascals can get quite 'peckish'!! Beware!!

    Last edited: 21 August 2017 20:43:09

  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108

    If you are in a rural area and being bitten now in august, could be harvest mites. I'm covered in bites. They will be under your clothes though, not on exposed flesh, different to flying biters. Don't look them up on the internet, you'll not sleep!

  • moragb1moragb1 Posts: 291
    Does anyone know what the bug is that looks like a tiny minute piece of grass and moves. Found a few recently and now covered in bites. Thanks
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Sounds nasty. Did the bites start after you planted something new in the garden?

    I react badly to any bites and have tiger mosquitos here that bite in the day. Hope they haven’t found their way to the UK. I wear long trousers and long- sleeved cotton t-shirts (ribbed cotton works well) but still have to use Jungle Formula on the back of my hands,  ears and neck. Then I got stung by a wasp on my eyebrow, a fast action antihistamine required! Have tried natural remedies and Avon SSS but nothing but the jungle juice works for me - I garden organically but have to slather in the chemicals myself  :/
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • stewyfizzstewyfizz Posts: 161
    I've been bit to death this summer with all the watering that has had to be done in the evening. Took to putting on my 'PPE' as i now call it: thick jogging bottoms and a fleece top. Sweat profusely but it works. But i sat out Monday evening in shorts and got bitten again. Seems to be tiny black critters.
    Gardening. The cause of, and solution to, all of my problems.
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