Our family of 8 just returned from a week's vacation in Big Pine Key (the Keys), FL - and YES, the No-See-ums are really bad right now down there - it really ruined our vacation as far as being outside - we seemed to be OK down in Key West (historic area) and fishing off the 7-mile bridge at Marathon, but miserable at our lodging (private home in Big Pine).

We tried everything to help prevent the bites - from OFF Botanicals (fairly good if used immediately and all the time) to citranella candles and DEET. We are also still experiencing new bites since we have returned home - and the itching is unbearable - hrdrocortisone cream, Benedryl and alcohol (topical) help some. Usually these creatures only come out in early evening but this year they were out biting all day and night!

I posted in this thread awhile ago...and have since been to St. John and back...the noseeums were nasty, but they always are in my experience. Basically from about 3 pm on, I kept myself drenched in bug spray, and I only had about a dozen bites this year. I probably tried 10 different repellents, and the only one that worked well for me was Cutter Deep Woods (30% DEET). I went through 3 bottles of it in 10 days!

When I go I use nothing but 100% deet. They still seem to get me but not as bad. I guess I am allergic. I will itch and still have the bites for 3 1/2 months after I get back. Happened to take that long all 3 times I was there.

We're back three days now and the bumps still are coming out. We used spray with DEET every time we went out and it didn't seem to work too well for us. Maybe it was the alcohol in our blood they liked.

But these bites only itch when they first come out and then turn into red bumps. Mostly on our elbows and forearms.

Little buggers! I had one of the critters biting me on the arm last night here in NH. OUCH!

Just returned from Duck Key, Florida. The first night, we were sitting outside the resort and I felt as if I were being attacked by an army of invisible stingers! One particular bite on my forearm looked bad, and while watching tv, the area around the bite began to redden. An hour later, I felt cold and ill - I'm thinking -- Lyme disease?? By morning, my arm from the elbow down was double its size! The swelling took 24 hours to go down, but the bite still itches. I have many more all over my arms and legs, but this one must have been caused by super bug! If you visit the Florida Keys, take tons of DEET with you and bathe in it before venturing outside! The area is beautiful but not people-friendly! That is--unless you want to be dinner to these nasty creatures!

I still have scars on my legs from all the bites I got while in West Virginia in July. I was told there that they were chigger bites!!

When we were in St. thomas 3yrs. ago, I came home with bites that really itched & as the days continued, more came out!

As far as the sprays to use, I have found that one that works on one person, may not work on the next person....you just have to keep trying different ones. I did purchase a can of "Musk'ter Beater" Body spray while on the islands that I thought would work....no deet in the ingrediants, but there is Bay Rum as on of the listed ingrediants! I just assumed that the locals ~knew~ how to rid of the pesky bugs living with them & all!

My husband and I moved to Florida almost two years ago from the NE where I had never even heard of Noseeums. Last year at this time I was lounging in the pool, sitting on the lani and just enjoying life. Boy have things changed this year. I look out the window at the pool and only wish that I could be sitting on our lani at sunset enjoying a cocktail. I haven't gone for a boat ride on our lake in months!
Everytime I go outside I seem to get attacked by those nasty little bugs. The strange thing is they always bite me in the same place...under the top part of my arms. I tried going in the pool this past weekend and within 20 mins I had 8 welts on me. My husband was right next to me and NOTHING attacked him... not one bite! I just went through another bottle of spray for itching and I know it will be another three days before the itching stops. I'm usually up itching three or four times a night. I just don't understand why they love me so much and don't go near my husband. I'm considering going to the expense of having our whole pool cage rescreened to a smaller grid of screening just so I can go back to living in paradise. My life has been miserible for the past two months. If there was a pill out there to take I would be the first one in line to take it. I keep checking the computer to see if I can find some information on how long these little NASTY bugs will be around. I'm actually afraid to go outside for fear of getting bitten.

They attack me as well, but leave hubby alone. I take B vitamins and while on the islands extra B-1. That in addition to spray in evenings and staying clear of the beach at dusk helps a lot. Dusk comes early in high season so we usually visit on low. In St John they are much worse, once I got 200+. The plus after the 200 is because more surfaced after the count. They get like welts that don't go away for a month at least. That's on me, and just small red pimples on my husband that go away in a day.
They seem to be everywhere from what I read.
Hope the B's help you.
LB

I just came back from Island sea Resort in the Bahamas where I was almost eaten up alive by these no-see-ums also know as biting midges, sand flies. I used skin so soft witch many people say it works but it didn't work for me I also used skin so soft bug repellent ,baby oil,skin so soft oil and another name brand that also did not work for me. I was there for 1 week and I have over 200 hundred bites all over my body. The itch is unbearable. It was suppose to be a vacation but was the worst week of my life. I could not sleep I wake itching and scratching during the night thinking that the bugs were in the bed. Now that I am home I'm still Itching. Had I known, that these bugs were there believe me I would have not gone there. You would think that, when you go to a resort that they would spray to control the infestation. Wrong I'm proof of that. If any on knows how to find out which places has them and when Please let me know.
Thanks in advance Mjsad

just wondering how the bites are doing. I just came back form the Bahamas on 10/01/2006 and I'm itching like I'm crazy. I can't understand how we are paying resort big bucks and geting bit up in return. Can you explain?
hope your better, than maybe hope for me.

As I understand it, if you could find a spray that would be strong enough to keep the no seeum in check it would also:

Be harmful to both people, animals and plants and

Because of the sea breezes, spraying would have to be done pretty often.

Keeping bushes trimmed, grass cut and eliminating standing water is about all that can be done.

Linda J

I don't think you'll find many places that don't have noseeums. Especially if you're on a beach, there's no breeze, and there's recent rain.

We go to Sanibel, Florida often and it can be brutal. You have to literally run for your life.

I guess that's the price you pay for paradise.

Have tried damn near all of these remedies and nothing worked while in Cozumel this last week. I'm covered in what looks like a second round of childhood chicken pox. I was told to eat alot of bananas and rub Bounce dryer sheets on my skin. I'm desperate to conquer these little b*stards for our next trip. Any other ideas anyone?

i use avon skin so soft or the green can of OFF or a combination of both, i've also used the clear deodorant sticks for your armpits that worked great for my shins and ankles

We live in florida and have had a no seeum issue all year
usually they ar only here in early and late summer but we just cant seem to get rid of them this year
They are out from mornming till morning
we usually use Deep woods off which works better than skin so soft as i think the critters are amune to the avon products

goluck

gobucs

We could all start biting them back,...it might send a stronger message!

Last week I sat outside with an old hair brush and Plastic wrap sandwich bag. when the little buggers started to bite, I brushed my leg with the hair brush and put it in the bag. I flattened the bag and scraped the inside and put the scrapping on a microscope slide. These are nasty looking critters. I bought the microscope for my Grand Children for Christmas (just wanted to test it out). I might give it to them next year.

I related to your message. I have 15 bites on the back of my legs and its December lol. Was just reading a lot of things to put on to prevent the bites but like to ask you what you used. And better yet what did you do to stop the itch. Thanks and God bless. Louise

We just returned to AZ after 4 days in Florida. My arms and legs are literally covered with hard red welts that itch soooo bad. We visited friends and I didn't hear them mention getting any bites. Can anyone become immune to these little tiny creatures. I have used so many things to help control the itching. This will be my last trip to a tropical "paradise".