much much worse on st john than on most of stt and stx...

Depends on the weather. A plethora of rain is harvest time for mossies and roaches. The latter breed and nest in waterlogged areas while the former get their subterranean dives rained out so come up to the surface.

"No-see-ums" are predominant on ALL beaches on ALL islands as the sun sets and tend to dissipate as the evening cools off, particularly during "high season" when the night-time temperatures drop sufficiently to send them scurrying back to the mean and narrow temperature they prefer.

It's always suggested that you wear loose and comfortable clothing if sitting out on the porch of your villa or going out to eat after the sun sets. Combine that with some "Off" spray (and there are different quite sweet-smelling options available) around your ankles or anywhere else exposed and you should have no problem.

we have rented houses on st JOHN in the past as well as stayed at caneel bay
and now the past two years we have stayed on st thomas at a resort and i must say that what i LOVE about st thomas is LESS BUGS...wayyyy more were in st john......love visiting in the day there but would prefer to 'sleep' on st thomas

We got back a couple of weeks ago and the little buggers were awful- I went through a whole can of OFF in less than a week and still got bitten alive, away from the beach, everywhere. They hardly touched my husband however. This was the worst they've been in the 4 times we've been to STJ and we will blame all the rain they had.

Marlin

What makes STJ such a unigue place also contibutes to more bugs...natural beauty. This is especially true immediately following a wet spell when the dormant eggs hatch and the young go feeding.
We have a similar problem in Houston. Love when the rain comes after a dry spell to bring the green foliage back to life but we know the next wave of skeeters will be 1-2 days behind.

We just returned from stt and I am covered with bites, mostly noseeums. I used plenty of sunscreen and cutters and they still liked me better than my husband. It's tough being so sweet

You might also consider eating food which contains garlic. And, in a pinch with no insect repellant available, ,

Douse a tissue with cheap gin and swab it over your exposed body parts. You'll momentarily smell like a cheap gin mill but the initial odor dissipates quite fast and then you're safe...

The "OFF" lanterns work really well at night and I use them all the time in my bedroom. They're available on STT at Plaza Extra (in Tutu Park Mall) and sometimes at KMart in Tutu and sometimes at Home Depot.

Hope I've helped just a bit...

Chees!

At the Westin bugs were not a big issue, at Maho and Cinnimon bay they were AWFUL!

I think bugs are subjective. I returned from STJ last night. We were at Concordia. We have more bugs in Southern Illinois. Yes, there was an occasional mosquito or no-see-um, but certainly not excessive. Like I might have to swat a couple of skeeters in the morning while drinking coffee on the deck, but that's less than I swat while sitting on MY deck at home. I think if you're used to a city envoirnment with NO bugs you might think there are a LOT in the Virgin Islands. If you live in the country, you might not think that they are. I brought insect repellant and only used it ONE time, and that was before we went on an all-day hike!

Well Canoebase, you're a lucky guy! We've "talked" about this before and my hubbie probably got one bite also, unlike me, the no-see-um magnet. They must like the sweetness of the ladies??? Can't wait to read your trip report either here or at hotmail!!

No-seeums in particular are definately NOT a "subjective" issue. When you are in the right place, at THEIR right time, and you are a good candidate for them (some folks seem not to be)......then they can be a very serious issue.

I highly reccommend what many others have used over the years, but which has not yet been mentioned in this thread - Avon's Skin So Soft. OFF makes a non-deet product called: Off Botanicals, which I think was developed along the lines of what makes Skin So Soft work.

So if you can't get Skin So Soft, and you don't care for deet, and you definately need some protection against no-seeums - I would strongly suggest being prepared by having Off Botanicals.

I lived there for two years, and while I developed less of a reaction to mosquitoes over that time, no seeums continued to be a rather serious issue for me. I lived in an apt that was about 60 feet above the ocean, and when the trade wind was not blowing, as it normally did, then I could expect visitors!

Bugs are NOT a problem for everyone, everytime you come to visit - but since it's so simple to be prepared in case you are affected by them, why not be? Then there is no issue and you've had a great vacation!!!

Ex-Island Paul

What are no seeums? Bugs love me, no matter what kind.

no-see-ums are little tiny bugs. Their bites are far out of propotion to their size. They are called "no-see-ums" because they are SO small they are difficult to see. I agree with island paul, be a good Scout and "be prepared" with whatever kind of insect repellant works for you. I prefer "Cutters", but to each their own. Be advised you CANNOT transport aerosol (spray) stuff on an aircraft-or at least in your carry on stuff, i don't know about checked luggage.

thank you

aerosol may be on the forbidden list, but I've never had TSA take my hair spray or bug spray out of my carry on luggage even during the time when they were taking nail clippers from people.