M and Ms
The dreaded mites that affect any outdoor enthusiast.
9/1/20233 min read
TIPS ON MINIMIZING THE BITES
The dreaded mites that affect any outdoor enthusiast.
MOSQUITO AND MIDGE SEASON
Whether you're holidaying in Europe or in the UK, insect bites are a pain in the BUTT. So why do these pesky little things like to bite……
If you have ever been bitten, you’ll know what I’m talking about here and the aftermath of coping with that itchy feeling around the bite.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes aka silent assassins seem to work alone and hide until you are still then they attack. You can sometimes hear them buzz close by but unless you want to sleep with a sheet over your head it’s hard to fight them off.
DID you know…
Mosquitoes like the CO2 we generate when we breathe. They also are attracted to body odour, body temperature, beer and wearing dark colours.
And it’s only the female mosquitoes that bite.
So now you know what they like, you could try not breathing, not sweating and wearing light colours. Well obs we need to breathe and we can’t help sweating so what can we do?
There are loads of products on the market that claim to prevent getting bitten but which ones work?
Have any worked for you?
Could you recommend one?
I’ve tried a few but have still been attacked by these menacing mites so I’m going to give my opinion on what works for me.
TIPS FOR INDOORS
DON’T OPEN WINDOWS - Try and use the air con (I know not great for the environment)
SPRAY THE ROOM - Don’t just spray yourself, spray your room and your bed ( I’m sure they lie in wait in there)
TIPS FOR THE OUTDOORS
KEEP OFF THE BEER ( try an alternative drink like wine or G&T)
USE SPRAY - which one you choose is up to you but you can do some research to find the best one that works for you
WEAR LIGHT COLOURED CLOTHING - they say it helps
And then there's the midges...
Army Of Midges
What about midges then?
Well if you’re doing any outdoor activity in the UK during the summer, you will probably encounter midges. These pesky mites live in the UK and love nothing more than attacking in an army on any poor human they select as their victim.
If you’re camping, walking or having a BBQ in the UK, you’ve probably fallen foul of these blood-tasting nasties. And again I’m sorry to say it's the females alone that bite.
These, not so delightful mites like to gang up in armies to attack their prey.
Swarms of midges are seen every summer, especially in Scotland. And midge season happens every year between May and September
BUT with the British weather, they can also come out whenever it’s warm.
Did you know…
They need a protein-rich meal of fresh blood to mature their eggs.
Both the males and the females rely on sugar meals for energy for flight but the females need more than this to ensure the next generation.
Female midges feed on the blood of birds as well as mammals.
Each species has its own preferred choice of host. I found this interesting article.
Cambridge University - What's the point of midges?
Midges use their antennae receptors to find their victims so you need something like body lotion to block them.
Some people swear by the product Smidge - The UK’s No.1 Midge Repellent SMIDGE but there are others on the market.
Personally, I would love to find something that works for me 100%.
What do you use?
Midges like being near water and air so rivers and lakes are a perfect residence for them to hang out BUT they like freedom.
TIPS FOR INDOORS
PINE OIL - if you can find it - use it as they don’t like the smell
TIPS FOR THE OUTDOORS
KEEP OF THE BEER ( try an alternative drink)
USE SPRAY - which one you choose is up to you but you can do some research to find the best one that works for you
WEAR full clothing (long sleeves and trousers)
Hope you enjoyed the read and good luck out there!
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