A problem with wild life gardening - multiple strange insect bites

Iain said:

I would recommend locating someone locally who has worked in gardening for a very long time and ask them their opinion -

Excellent advice! Yes I entirely see the logic in this. The spray is a start as I was getting in the habit of anxiety, finding excuses not to do gardening, fearing pain and itching. I'll ask at the local garden centre. I would be aghast at melting my new purple crocs !

Marianne72 said:

The pharmacy sold me some jungle-strength insect repellant so I hope, fingers crossed, this works........

It is worth noting that such repellants can be ineffective against some species of insects and even against the same species but in a different region due to local gene pool differences or tolerances.

I certainly experience this where I live as different regions of Brazil use different products to repel mosquitoes for this reason. Some brands use an approach of a harsh chemical which can irritate some delicate skins and also had the effect of stripping the polish off a pair of my shoes and melting my flip-flops where they were caught with overspray.

With this in mind I would recommend locating someone locally who has worked in gardening for a very long time and ask them their opinion - their pool of knowledge is more likely to have various solutions for this issue.

I thought it was something to do with skin chemicals. The pharmacy sold me some jungle-strength insect repellant so I hope, fingers crossed, this works........

A white ermine moth flew into my face once as I sat in a towed car and tried steering it. Such a pity I had very little time to look at it properly, it looked gorgeous.

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.

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

The pretty white flag moth - I found one on my bedroom ceiling. Also, a cockchafer - I was fascinated by its curious fan like antenae. My unfavourite is the increasingly prevalent mosquitoes - because of their irritating noise and bite.

Thanks, Bunny . It sounds a bit like an electronic version of the teaspoon method recommended by Iain . I think I'll ask the nurse at my appointment next week as I've spent a lot on creams and potions this week.

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.

I use the non-steroid cream, over the counter too. I'm still considering myself lucky, but occasionally badly need it, despite being not the tastiest one.

Why do mosquitoes bite some people more than others?

www.bbc.co.uk/.../20260708-why-do-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more-than-others

Cinnabar_wing said:

red itchy bumps, which I'm currently covered in.

Yes, that's what I get and it's practically impossible not to scratch. My pharmacist prescribed some anti histamine cream with steroids but you have to use it sparingly as it thins the skin - works, though.

I get bitten a lot, it's hard not to itch.

The worst I had was after a walk in a woods in Warwickshire, I got bitten by horseflies on both my hands and they started swelling. I had gone to bed hoping they'd get better but the next morning they were twice the size and looked like bear paws, and we're really hot. My husband had to call in sick for me as I couldn't actually use a phone/or my hands at all, and he had to call in sick too.

The drop-in center just said take antihistamine, and the swelling did come down. It was scary and humiliating that was all I had needed to do, but I'd never had that reaction before so didn't know. The next week I got bitten on my forehead. I didn't wait then, I went to a pharmacy during a lunch break to buy some before the swelling got too bad (still had a sizeable lumpy swollen head)

Never bitten that bad again, I think I just reacted to something they were carrying that year as normally it's just red itchy bumps, which I'm currently covered in.

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!

Funnily enough, insects are something that escapes my attention. Partially because it's too many of them overall, and partially because there's not that huge variety within a single garden. But I do occasionally find interesting moths. What's your favourites and least favourites so far? 

I bought two of these handy little devices a couple of years ago as gifts for family members who are particularly prone to getting bitten by insects.

They've both since told that me it's very effective across a range of bites. It's also very convenient to carry around, ready for acting quickly when bitten - whether in the garden (perhaps in a cargo trouser pocket!) or anywhere else:

Amazon - Beurer BiteX Original Insect Bite Healer BR 60 (where it's highly rated, and currently just under £20)

The manufacturer's website also shows their other models - one of which has a carabiner clip, which could be handy for attaching to a keyring or bag:

Beurer (UK) - Insect bite healers

DoraXplora said:

please take care of yourself and get that repellant ready! 

Yes, I have to! It drives me insane sometimes, though I enjoy riffling through my Insect guide and identifying the stranger ones, funnily enough. 

Excellent, thanks Iain . I needed something for immediate relief. The pharmacist sold me some cream but I don't like to use it often as it contains steroids and thins the skin. 

Ah yes, I've read about that. Luckily, I've got the cream now too; it only takes five minutes to hold on and not scratch after application. I'll keep that in method in mind though, for cases when cream is not available (which is about very often when am not at home). Brazil sounds very cool (very hot!) and I bet it has more variety of bitey stuff than I know of. 

Marianne72 said:

It's horrible at night, with the bites itching

One technique I learned where I live (Brazil) to reduce the itchiness is to the teaspoon method.

Basically stick a teaspoon into hot water to warm it up (think about the temperature of tea that you would drink) , remove it and shake off the water then put the back of the spoon against the insect bite.

It is important to make sure the temperature is not too hot as it can burn the skin, hence the guide to use a cup of tea as a guide.

The has an effect of creating a counter-irritant which reduces the irritation for some time, from minutes to hours depending on the person.

There is a good article explaining it here: https://www.verywellhealth.com/does-heat-alleviate-itchiness-from-mosquito-bites-7554462

I note that experts advise against it as there are plenty of people daft enough not to check the temp beforehand.

This is how I cope with the regular insect bites experienced here and it is quite effective for me. 

In line with the rules this is not medical advice, only my experience and some research into the subject.