Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

What's been biting me?

indigosky63indigosky63 Posts: 17
in Problem solving
This is a bit of a long shot.  We've lived in our current house for 3 yrs next month and this is the first time I've had this happen.  We have a very large pond (30m long) and I think this may mean that we have a large insect population.  In February this year I started getting bitten on the legs by something even though my skin was always covered.  It's definitely not something inside the house - it only ever happened when I went outside. I continued getting bitten only on the legs, until about 2-3 weeks ago, now it appears to have stopped.  Anyone know what it might be?  I have researched various types of mosquito - according to the Government website the variety Culiseta annulata bites in early spring, but apparently they can bite through fabric!  Any thoughts, anyone? 
«1

Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Could be any type of mite, tick, insect ...  If its a major problem, consult a pharmacist or doctor.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • BluejaywayBluejayway Posts: 392
    Maybe mosquito dunks added to the pond would help?
  • indigosky63indigosky63 Posts: 17
    Bluejayway said:
    Maybe mosquito dunks added to the pond would help?
    Thanks for that very helpful suggestion - I'd never heard of them! 
  • Winston_The_Gravity_ManWinston_The_Gravity_Man Posts: 263
    It could be a marauding ant.  They get into some funny places !
    When there's always biscuits in the tin, where's the fun in biscuits ?
  • indigosky63indigosky63 Posts: 17
    Winston_The_Gravity_Man said:
    It could be a marauding ant.  They get into some funny places !
    Possibly - but I think it's unlikely, based on where a couple of the bites were, ie near the top of my thigh!  I think if it had been an ant - I would have felt it bite, and discovered the ant when I "investigated"lol.  Plus I would have thought Feb a bit early for ants. 
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Depends where you are @indigosky63 the ants have been active here in the SW  for several weeks ;)
    There are endless tiny things which will squeeze into the most unexpected places and if they like the taste of you, they will bite. 
    It sounds as if you are disturbing something where you are walking rather than something from your pond at the moment.  Bit early for mosquitos here but I don't suppose it will be too long before they make an appearance,
    I had a similar bite on the inside of my thigh some weeks ago - the weather wasn't wonderful so fully dressed and boots too.  No idea what it was but it eased off after a few applications of Anti histamine cream.
    Something we have to live with I think  :)  
  • indigosky63indigosky63 Posts: 17
    Thx for the reply, philippa - however "where I was walking" was usually just on the patio hard paving not in any long grass or anything.  One morning I walked out to peg out some clothes on the line (on said patio)  and got bitten in the 5 minutes I was out there.  I wouldn't mind so much if the bites eased off quickly, like yours, however on me they last 2 weeks and disturb my sleep.  Anti histamine cream is not much help.  I have however, discovered a very helpful method of quelling the horrible itching - which anyone who suffers similarly might like to try.  Heat a teaspoon in some hot water, and apply it to the bite, as hot as you can stand without burning yourself.  Do this a few times, it seems to work. Apparently a protein is injected into your flesh by the insect and the heat breaks it down. 
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    edited May 2023
    I don't find anti-histamine creams much use either. I have one of those little clicky zappers which are effective at stopping itching from small bites (gnats etc).

    For anything really itchy I apply Eurax cream which is a very good anti- pruritic cream. Nasty things like mozzy bites I have to resort to antihistamine tablets as well.

    I'm surprised at how busy and active ants are this year after all the rain we've had. Came back from 2 weeks away last week and the lawn is covered in big ant hills. When I first saw them out of the window I thought the moles had moved in. A closer look and they're swarming with yellow and black ants. Have to be careful where I'm kneeling when gardening!
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • BluejaywayBluejayway Posts: 392
    @indigosky63 👍🤞
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Aloe Vera gel works for me. I'm a biter magnet.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
Sign In or Register to comment.