Mosquitoes
 

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

Well maybe hat explains it.

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

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

Bug bites
 

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!