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A problem with wild life gardening - multiple strange insect bites

Marianne72

I've been too successful in wildlife gardening as I'm getting bitten in places I can't scratch, and insects I've never experienced before. No one mentions this in the books Angry. Despite wearing cargo trousers, they manage to crawl up the backs of my legs and also in my hat. I'm off to buy jungle-strength insect repellant [recommended by a paramedic] but does anyone else have this problem? It's horrible at night, with the bites itching and hot. I don't know why I'm so attractive to insects - others can walk across a field with no problems but I'll be running in blood! 

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  • I think some of us are just tasty, I'm the same as you, constantly covered in bites, I always have been regardless of where I live. 1% uric acid pens that you can dot on are quite good, as is antihistime cream, sometimes I've been bitten so badly I have to use a steroid cream as I come out in big lumps.

    I saw an article in the paper the other day about how Ugandans are using Catnip lotion because its easy to make and use and is as effective as DEET for keeping malarial insects at bay. I want to know how to make it now as it's easy to grow. But instead of insects, will I attract cats? I would think this could be quite problematic in countries with large cats, whilst its a nice idea to have a lion rubbing itself on me, it might be a bit scary!

  • in reply to TheCatWoman
    TheCatWoman said:
    whilst its a nice idea to have a lion rubbing itself on me, it might be a bit scary!

    And most likely terminal! I've never heard of catnip used as an insect repellant. I looked up this article in Nature, and findings are positive. I wonder if you can distill it from Nepeta, like distilling lavender oil? It might be worth wearing some sprigs or putting some in a vase indoors [no water]. Interesting to try.

  • in reply to Marianne72

    One of my plans for the garden next year is to turn the big pond that dosen't work into a bog garden, the pond as it is now is a midge breeding ground, I will grow things like mugwort, which repel insects.

    Fearn sometimes get attacked by midges when we're out, I often rub her with a handful of fresh mint and the midges don't bite her then, it worked on me too

  • in reply to TheCatWoman
    TheCatWoman said:
    turn the big pond that dosen't work into a bog gard

    Bog garden is a great idea; there are some wonderful plants for that. I think as the climate changes we'll get far more mosquitoes. I'll try the mint rub - I love the smell of mint.

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