Mosquitoes

[Arubagirl2000]

This is my first winter here, and I was wondering if it was normal to have so many mosquitoes this time of year. The past couple days I felt like I have been lunch to so many of them. I put spray on, and still getting bit.

[Ceafolks]

It's illegal to feed mosquitoes in The Villages. :police:

[buggyone]

This is my first winter here, and I was wondering if it was normal to have so many mosquitoes this time of year. The past couple days I felt like I have been lunch to so many of them. I put spray on, and still getting bit.

What area of The Villages are you being bit? I have been here for 3 years and have not seen mosquitoes nor have been bitten by any.

[Arubagirl2000]

What area of The Villages are you being bit? I have been here for 3 years and have not seen mosquitoes nor have been bitten by any.

Caroline.

[Barefoot]

This is my first winter here, and I was wondering if it was normal to have so many mosquitoes this time of year. The past couple days I felt like I have been lunch to so many of them. I put spray on, and still getting bit.

I think that The Villages does a good job of controlling mosquitos, however I find I get bitten a lot if I'm outside at dusk.

[jblum315]

This is my first winter here, and I was wondering if it was normal to have so many mosquitoes this time of year. The past couple days I felt like I have been lunch to so many of them. I put spray on, and still getting bit.

I have been here full-time for 3 1/2 years and i have never seen a single mosquito. I don't think mosquitoes are allowed to live in the Villages unless they are age 55 or older. Seriously, are you near a pond or a cow pasture?

[gomoho]

Just started noticing mosquitoes myself. Have been here since June and was pleasantly suprised there were none. For them to show themselves now when it is cooler and dry is a little strange. Maybe TV stopped spraying which has allowed them to populate our surroundings?

[cquick]

I've seen quite a few lately. They must be looking for some nurishment sinch the weather has turned chilly. And they thrive in humid weather.

[Arubagirl2000]

I have been here full-time for 3 1/2 years and i have never seen a single mosquito. I don't think mosquitoes are allowed to live in the Villages unless they are age 55 or older. Seriously, are you near a pond or a cow pasture?

No, and no. Killed several in the house last night. Today I have on long socks, long sweats, long shirt - not giving them a chance since they bit me a lot last night.

[buggyone]

Caroline does have that huge marsh area by it. Maybe mosquitoes are breeding in the marsh? However, you would think logically that if there are lots of mosquitoes in Caroline that you would find lots of mosquitoes at Lake Sumter Landing especially when there are lots of people at the town square at dusk. Never have I seen any mosquitoes there and I am at the square a couple of times a week.

[784caroline]

The Villages routinely sprays for mosquitos during the summer season but I have not seen the truck come by for the past 2 months.

[gomoho]

Well maybe hat explains it.

[Judith Ann]

4 years...no mosquitoes...such a good deal!

[cab1948]

Played a late game of golf today, finished around 5:45, at Turtle Mound and came home with two mosquito bites.....

[PandG]

I have read lots of posts in the past saying there are no mosquitoes in The Villages. In reading the recent December 2012 posts, I'm glad to see I am not the only one being bitten.

Back in November, we ate outside at Evans Prairie with another couple. The other gal got a huge bug bite while we were eating. It was a large welt, and bled through her top. (Sorry to be gross!)

The next morning I awoke with tons of bites along the insides of both calves. They became redder and turned into welts, many of them blending together as one large red mass. That night I couldn't sleep because the itching was so painful, despite taking a Zyrtec and applying Benadryl stick roll-on.

I went to Evans Prairie and spoke with a staff person, and learned that since they are in a wetlands area, it is environmentally protected. Therefore, they don't spray for bugs and mosquitoes.

The itching lasted for days, despite using over-the-counter cortisone and Aveeno eczema soothing creams. My internist's office referred me to an allergist, who tested me for various critters, but not mosquitoes (even though the receptionist told me I'd be tested for them). Thankfully, I'm not allergic to anything, including fire ants. The Dr. told me to wear long socks and pants (even in the summer!), and couldn't give me any other advice. I was not impressed with this doctor!

I had not been outside on a nice night since then, until we went to Brownwood on Monday night (12/17). Yesterday morning, I had the same bug bites issue as before, and they're painfully itchy.

I have tried googling to find out what these bites could be from. I'm thinking they're a type of "chigger", which was common back in the Midwest, but doesn't seem to be common around here. I am trying to find bug repellent that is DEET-free, plus agreeable for those with fragrance sensitivities like myself. Someone suggested I take a B-complex vitamin, which I began doing yesterday. However, that can take 1 month to be effective.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

[Arubagirl2000]

Pandg - if you find out what it is, please post as I have those also. Never had anything itch so bad. Doc prescribed a strong cream - Betamethasone Dipropionate 0.05% Augmented. It sure finally helped with the itching. Doc told me to stay out of the grass and to also wear socks and long pants.

[KathieI]

I'm sorry for your problems but in a way, I'm thankful that you are having the same problem I am. I could be out at night with a handful of people and I seem to be the only one getting bitten. They are so painful and itchy and last for a few days if not a week. Everyone thinks I'm nuts but (well I know I am) but I really am getting bitten. The only thing that works for me is a cream sold only at Walmart and is for chiggers. (I don't even know what a chigger is???) but my friend who is a native to this area told me that they are probably no-see-ums and this cream is the only thing that works. I've posted this before and its hard to find at Walmart but they do carry it. Its a white jar with red cap and has chigger cream on the front label. Its very very inexpensive, so not a big time investment to try it.

Good luck. I use lots of bug repellent on my legs when I go out at night, especially if I'm at the squares.

[buggyone]

I have read lots of posts in the past saying there are no mosquitoes in The Villages. In reading the recent December 2012 posts, I'm glad to see I am not the only one being bitten.

Back in November, we ate outside at Evans Prairie with another couple. The other gal got a huge bug bite while we were eating. It was a large welt, and bled through her top. (Sorry to be gross!)

The next morning I awoke with tons of bites along the insides of both calves. They became redder and turned into welts, many of them blending together as one large red mass. That night I couldn't sleep because the itching was so painful, despite taking a Zyrtec and applying Benadryl stick roll-on.

I went to Evans Prairie and spoke with a staff person, and learned that since they are in a wetlands area, it is environmentally protected. Therefore, they don't spray for bugs and mosquitoes.

The itching lasted for days, despite using over-the-counter cortisone and Aveeno eczema soothing creams. My internist's office referred me to an allergist, who tested me for various critters, but not mosquitoes (even though the receptionist told me I'd be tested for them). Thankfully, I'm not allergic to anything, including fire ants. The Dr. told me to wear long socks and pants (even in the summer!), and couldn't give me any other advice. I was not impressed with this doctor!

I had not been outside on a nice night since then, until we went to Brownwood on Monday night (12/17). Yesterday morning, I had the same bug bites issue as before, and they're painfully itchy.

I have tried googling to find out what these bites could be from. I'm thinking they're a type of "chigger", which was common back in the Midwest, but doesn't seem to be common around here. I am trying to find bug repellent that is DEET-free, plus agreeable for those with fragrance sensitivities like myself. Someone suggested I take a B-complex vitamin, which I began doing yesterday. However, that can take 1 month to be effective.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

There is a kind of insect called a "no-see-um" which is actually a very tiny biting fly about 1/16th inch and the bite is terribly itchy. You did not get bit by mosquitoes. Read the link. A chigger is found in the grass and is a tiny red bug. You did not get bit by a chigger. Read the link.

Sanibel Island is a place that no-see-ums and I first got to know each other. I did not like the meeting at all and soon learned to use Deep Woods Off at dawn and dusk. No problem after that learning experience.
Backyard Gardener - Coping with No-See-Ums - September 21, 2005 (http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/noseeums.html)

[gerryann]

Yup, I'm real close to Caroline, and I've had quite a few. As the OP, real close to the marsh.

[justjim]

There is a kind of insect called a "no-see-um" which is actually a very tiny biting fly about 1/16th inch and the bite is terribly itchy. You did not get bit by mosquitoes. Read the link. A chigger is found in the grass and is a tiny red bug. You did not get bit by a chigger. Read the link.

Sanibel Island is a place that no-see-ums and I first got to know each other. I did not like the meeting at all and soon learned to use Deep Woods Off at dawn and dusk. No problem after that learning experience.
Backyard Gardener - Coping with No-See-Ums - September 21, 2005 (http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/noseeums.html)

I agree with Buggyone in that it is highly likely you and others WERE NOT bitten by mosquitoes. I would think if it were Mosquitoes you could see them flying about your location. Clearly is not chigger bites. No-see-ems maybe. I had what a relative called no-see-em bites over at Merritt Island a couple years ago. The bites were as others in this thread described---no fun! When we retired and moved to Florida in 1998, We were pleasantly surprised to find less mosquitoes in Florida than any other place we lived. Six years in The Villages and I have yet to be lunch for a mosquito. Fire ants---another story !

[gomoho]

We have mosquitoes - I have killed several in my house in Hadley; however, the 29 degrees forecast for tomorrow night should take care of that for a short time anyway!

[rubicon]

Mosquitoes have not been a problem until following the warm winter we had last year. Again the winter has been mild for 2012.

But if you want to see a mosquitoe problem go to Alaska first then Minnesota.

I lived i Minneapolis area and during the summer months at dusk there be so many that they drive you into a shelter

[PandG]

I learned that mosquitoes and no-see-ums don't like the scent of lavender. Whole Foods Market (there's one near Orlando) has a 32-oz. bottle of "365" (their brand) Lavender Blend shower gel.

When I'm going to be outside at night, I rub the gel on my legs and feet before leaving. (The bugs don't bite my arms.) When I get home, I just wipe it off. This has worked 3 times recently, even when I have felt bugs on my legs. I hope this is helpful to others who have gotten bug bites.

Gail

[BritParrothead]

Mozzies love me :yuck: i dont know why, cos I really hate them! BUT i have found that Avon Skin So Soft body oil does the trick!
I can even buy it here in england, over the counter! Always stock up before leaving the country :wave:

[BritParrothead]

Sorry, forget to say, do not wear blue / dark blue or black clothing when mozzies are here. If you do, they will get you!
I was in Zanzibar a few years ago, and was told this, well, I did not listen, silly me, and I was bitten.
I never wear these colours in mozzie season, and they do seem to leave me alone.