Dawn,

I'm not a bugologist so don't know what no see'ms are but do know they exist. Have experienced them in Panama, Curucao, Puerto Rico, St Croix, and Minnesota. In Minnesota we call then gnats. Come out and night, bite like skeeters and many folks swell up a bit.

My experience is, much like skeeters, they're more prevelant from dusk to mid evening. Seemed to be around the beach but of course, that's where I always was. They're probably in the trees also. Suggest wearing repellant from sunset on to be safe. I've never had trouble with reaction to no see'ms but have seen folks thru the years that have flaired up a bit. My theory was that if you had enough rum in your system, any bug that bit me would be too drunk to bite again and the alcohol he extracted cleansed the wound. Wife didn't buy my theory but I still have had no problems with no see'ms.

If you are allergic to bug bites then I'd bring Benadryl and Benadryl Cream as well as bug repellant and any other precautionary elixir that you use at home.

The no-see-ums are prevelant. You do not feel the bite but you scratch the itch later. I'm not allergic and am usually left alone by mosquitos but my legs had at least 15 or so bites from no-see-ums this past December.

So I should be okay during the day. I live in Ca. and we have gnats too. They don't bother me until dusk. Thanks.

If you seriously swell from bug bites, I would seriously talk to your doctor before arriving in the islands. Why? I have been told that you can either take a pill or get a shot which will lessen/minimize the impact they might have on you.

They usually appear late afternoon on and near the beaches. I lived just 50 feet up from the ocean and had them sucking my blood BOTH late afternoon and the early morning!

They were a serious issue to me - and one that I never fully embraced or overcame after living there for a little over 2 years.

I used bottles and bottles of Benadrylstop the itch that comes in a Spray form, as well as a Gel. If you can find it in the states, it might be a good idea to bring a bunch with you since it will undoubtedly be less expensive than on island.

CA gnats are no comparison - I am also from CA, and have been ravaged by noseeums while in the Carribean (as the nemae goes... I never saw them until the bites appeared...) - while mosquitos seem to leave me alone. {go figure}

What is the best product (natural and/or chemical) to PREVENT noseeum from biting in the first place? Does this product also work for mosquitos? (they love to bite my GF... me too...)

Hi Dawn,

Julianna recommended an herb in a " Botanical Outdoor gel" available from a company called Neem Tree Farms. I ordered the stuff because I thought it was to relieve the itch but it looks like it is also used to prevent the bugs from biting. Here is the link she gave me to order the stuff. Go to Skin and Nail Care on the left side. The 8oz bottle is $12 plus shipping and handling. It has a mild bad smell but much better smell than off bug spray.

http://neemtreefarms.com/catalog/

Maybe someone else knows about this stuff and whether is works on these bugs and the others.

I find that the noseeum bites affect me differently than mosquito bites. They itch more, they develop a hard center, and they don't go away as fast. I always go armed with a bottle of Diprolene .05% lotion. It's prescription, but your primary care physician shouldn't have any problem giving you a scrip for it - it's now available generically, so costs whatever your co-pay is.

It was more than worth it to me, even when it was full price! Also, take some diphenhydramine (Benadryl) tablets with you in case you have trouble sleeping when you itch.

Is that a preventative or for after you get bite?

Off makes a mosquito spray called - OFF BOTANICALS which does keep no-seeums away as well. Avon's Skin So Soft, also works. In fact I think the Off Botanicals was based on Avon's product!

Yes, no-seeum bites are VERY different from mosquito bites in both the resulting look of the bite and the sting/pain/itch.

I would be prepared to try to keep them off in the first place, but would also be prepared to help soothe them if/when they do getcha'!

I saw one ONCE. I sensed I was being bitten and looked down and there it was, a dark spot, about the head of a pin. I got it off, but by then it was already too late! Ugh, they are NOT FUN!!!

Alas, Diprolene is for after you have already been bitten but, while not perfect, it works better than anything else I've found.

Thanks, I will ask my doctor about it.

Also, I have found online sunscreen that contains deet. I found 1 that contains 10% and another that contains 20%. Not sure if that is going to be good enough for me but I intend to come prepared with eveything I can find and the Diprolene in case I am bit.

Thank you.

We bought a GREAT organic spray form the store beside Skinny Legs. We got attacked at Maho Bay non stop, we actually ran back to the jeep...it sucked.

You may not see them, but you will hear them...yikes!!

In 5 yrs. we have never seen Noseeums but this yr. they were out in force. Will never go again without some kind of protection. Have red dots all over legs and feet. We have them in Michigan in summer but never had as many bites as this yr. in St. Thomas.

There are quite a few bug repellents out there. Just make sure the label SPECIFICALLY says that it will work on no-see-ums. Just because it works for mosquitoes does NOT mean it will work on no-see-ums.

Ladies, it just occured to me - if you wear nail polish you'll want to know that the aerosol base in many of these products will dissolve it. So cover your toes when spraying!!

A little more information for you on those nasty little b*stards.

http://search.hp.netscape.com/hp/boomframe.jsp?query=no-see-ums&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3D97623bd13c864324%26clickedItemRank%3D4%26userQuery%3Dno-see-ums%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcreatures.ifas.ufl.edu%252Faquatic%252Fbiting_midges.htm%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DHPPavTop%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fcreatures.ifas.ufl.edu%2Faquatic%2Fbiting_midges.htm

Hey I am the one who started the thread. Thank you very much for that info. My husband told me that was what he thought it had to be. I never heard of biting mites. I am very allergic to dust mites and get allergy shots for that but I don't think they have it for the biting mites.

Thank you, thank you!

This is one of the reason to stay on the mountain top. The breeze there will keep them away.......

RM

My mom is a human sugar cube to most any kind of biting critter.....she takes a b-complex vitamin and that seems to work with her body chemistry.

One all organic (with or without sunscreen) is Cactus Juice. On the rare occasions I actually need spray, it's because of the sand fleas/noseeums - that stuff works wonders. they make a cream with SPF 20 sunscreen in it as well. There is a locally made product called Caribbean Blue that also works well - we carry it at my shop, and I have seen it in various places. It is also all nautral as well.

If none of THAT works, then externally apply gin. Go ahead...laugh...it works 🙂