What's biting me in the garden?

JDxtra

This is a long shot, but maybe somebody has some ideas. Every year at this time only, I get bitten by something after spending time in my back garden e.g. weeding, cutting grass or just sitting down.

The garden consists of a variety of shrubs, a cobbled path and patio and lawn. No pond or standing water. No pets in our home. Typical urban location in Co. Kildare.

In my family, I'm the only one impacted. Bites are usually 2 or 3 at a time and can be in a line. They are always on my ankles and lower legs. I've never seen anything bite me or anything unusual land/jump/crawl on me. Bites cause small red bumps which are really incredibly itchy for a few days then fade away. Once bitten, no cream will cause relief.

This only happens from mid-April for around a month. Insect repellant on my legs will help. Bites can occur even when wearing long trousers as opposed to shorts.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Rows Grower

It could be ants that you are disturbing after they have had a long peaceful rest.

CelticRambler

First thought would be ants, although if you're not getting bitten on your thighs/lower back despite sitting down in the grass, that might be less likely. Could also be fleas - even if you don't have pets, any other furry mammal that passes through the garden could carry them in (especially foxes and hedgehogs). After that, you're into the weird and wonderful world of opportunist parasitology - but don't forget that plants can also cause insect-bite-like lesions. Something spiny poking through trousers could provoke a reaction (I got stung on my knee yesterday when I knelt on a nettle while chainsawing, despite wearing my hard-work overalls).

JDxtra

Thanks! Ants, I'm not sure about as I don't often see these apart from the odd black garden ant. Do these even bite?

I'm now leaning towards fleas. Looking at the pictures of the bites online, the they look similar in terms of shape and pattern. We have had hedgehogs in the garden. It's entirely possible hedgehogs are living somewhere like under my shed. I do have dead leaves under hedges/shrubs so I might start by clearing these out to remove potential hiding places for rogue fleas.

Mimon

JDxtra wrote: »

This is a long shot, but maybe somebody has some ideas. Every year at this time only, I get bitten by something after spending time in my back garden e.g. weeding, cutting grass or just sitting down.

The garden consists of a variety of shrubs, a cobbled path and patio and lawn. No pond or standing water. No pets in our home. Typical urban location in Co. Kildare.

In my family, I'm the only one impacted. Bites are usually 2 or 3 at a time and can be in a line. They are always on my ankles and lower legs. I've never seen anything bite me or anything unusual land/jump/crawl on me. Bites cause small red bumps which are really incredibly itchy for a few days then fade away. Once bitten, no cream will cause relief.

This only happens from mid-April for around a month. Insect repellant on my legs will help. Bites can occur even when wearing long trousers as opposed to shorts.

Any ideas or suggestions?

My bet would be mosquitos. I woke up with a couple of bites on my legs this morning.

We more likely get them this time of year more than the summer as the type we get can breed in wet soil. Or a neighbour may have standing water or you might have a blocked gutter or something similar.

fryup

same here OP

been plagued with hives on my legs for the past month, really itchy...went through my bedsheets and found a flea squashed it and no more bites (so far)

specks of blood on your bedsheets is usually a sign of them

RebelButtMunch

Could be midges

looksee

Bites confined to ankle level does suggest fleas. Some people are more susceptible to bites than others, so you can only defend yourself by using repellent on your ankles.

JDxtra

looksee wrote: »

Bites confined to ankle level does suggest fleas. Some people are more susceptible to bites than others, so you can only defend yourself by using repellent on your ankles.

True! I also get bitten alive by mosquitoes on any family holidays abroad.

fryup

i know fleas are usually found on pets...but where would they reside in the garden?

JPup

If you pull your socks up outside your trouser legs would that help?

CelticRambler

fryup wrote: »

i know fleas are usually found on pets...but where would they reside in the garden?

Fleas live in the environment. They're found on pets - and non-pet mammals - when they're feeding (or have fed, or are going to feed) but the first three stages of their life-cycles take place elsewhere. Warm humid conditions (indoors or out) bring out waves of the fourth stage of the life-cycle - the classic flea.

JDxtra

JPup wrote: »

If you pull your socks up outside your trouser legs would that help?

Insect repellent works well - but inevitably I forget each year until I get my first set of bites!

fryup

CelticRambler wrote: »

but the first three stages of their life-cycles take place elsewhere.

and would they bite in the first three stages?

Milly33

Id say mosquitos too or midges.. Just dont go gardening late in the evening.. Vinegar is great for stopping the itchys or if you come across those insect repelant bands that might keep them at bay

Mimon

Another possibility is horse flies, son had loads of itchy bites after being at a lake last week and reckon it was them.

Mosquitos will generally go for exposed skin but horse flies are feckers as they get in under your clothes and can cause numerous bites. They actually saw the skin and then lick up the blood!

fryup

horseflies? surely too early for them?

Zapperzy

I get bitten every time I cut the lawn too. I spend a lot of time around water getting bit by mosquitos and the bites I get from the garden are the same as around water so I figure it's mosquitos. I get pretty severe reactions to them and they always go for my ankles, rarely any higher than mid calf. They can bite through clothing too.

minibear

I get bitten by anything that is capable of biting or stinging. I think when i go out they just see a big target instead of a person and they zoom in to get me. I could be sitting with a group of people for the evening but i'm the one who gets bitten/stung. And the site then swells up to ridiculous proportions and oozes and itches and stings. I've tried various products for both stopping them "seeing" me and for reducing the swelling when they've gotten me. The worst have been mosquito, caterpillar and horse flies.
Trying to avoid the DEET products i started using a dry oil body spray made by Avon. It wasn't marketed or intended as an insect repellent but it was brilliant to keep them away. There were two varieties and it was the blue/green bottle that was called Woodland Fresh i think that was great. Not sure if it's still available but it's certainly worth trying.

For the bites and stings, I have tried everything. The best product i found was Autan Insect after-bite gel. My parents got it in Greece for me every year and it was a life saver. It instantly cooled the site and the the swelling wasn't anything as bad as it would normally be. It's only a little bottle but it lasts a long time. I think i found it on Amazon last year.

CelticRambler

fryup wrote: »

and would they bite in the first three stages?

No. But when the third stage emerges as the fourth, it's hungry and can't sit around waiting for its preferred species for too long, so will take advantage of any passing mammal with decent circulation!

fryup

like tiny vampires then

CelticRambler

'Tis all in the grand scheme of things, as noted by the bould Jonathon Swift some years ago:

So, Nat'ralists observe, a Flea
Hath smaller Fleas that on him prey,
And these have smaller yet to bite 'em,
And so proceed ad infinitum

Edit: our morning news here in France this Thursday reminded us to beware of ticks, even in a domestic garden, as they - like many biting critters - are having a great time in this changed climate ... and spreading Lyme disease like it was going out of fashion.

Mimon

fryup wrote: »

horseflies? surely too early for them?

You could be right but the weather was very good at times in the last few weeks.

Was sure that's what has bitten my son last week as the bites are under his clothes, mosquitos we get here only bite on exposed skin.

No experience of flea bites but the cat is overdue a flea dose!!

fryup

minibear wrote: »

The worst have been mosquito, caterpillar and horse flies.

caterpillars don't bite do they???

fryup

fryup wrote: »

caterpillars don't bite do they???

Vampire caterpillars?

plastic glass

I could have written this original post, except mine tend to go up to my knee. And I don’t really do any gardening. I live in an urban setting with not many pets around and I Don’t think any stagnant water. However we do have ants in the estate. Mostly in the front garden by our front wall and a tree right outside my house. Something to do with the sap on the tree I’ve been told. We see them every year around this time and I always get plagued with bites. Only happens for a couple of weeks but now I’m wfh it seems much worse this year.

As a result I’m guessing it’s ants. My wife doesn’t really seem to get bitten. Maybe the odd one.

fryup

^^^^^^^^^^

could be fleas, check your bedsheets and the inner lining of your trouser legs

riffmongous

Ankles and incredibly itchy could be grass mites (chiggers) imo. Worst few days of my life with them after I napped in some grass one sunny morning

Solli

It’s plain old midges. At their worst in April to May. Use citronella or rub garlic on your ankles and stuff ur trouser leg into socks. They come out in the evenings. Midges love freshly washed hair and bodies so the more you perspire they quicker they leave to find fresher prey!
Although if they bite in a line it’s usually a flea. Stuck in clothing so they keep biting. Ugh!

Mimon

Solli wrote: »

It’s plain old midges. At their worst in April to May. Use citronella or rub garlic on your ankles and stuff ur trouser leg into socks. They come out in the evenings. Midges love freshly washed hair and bodies so the more you perspire they quicker they leave to find fresher prey!
Although if they bite in a line it’s usually a flea. Stuck in clothing so they keep biting. Ugh!

Surely midges only leave an itch and a tiny mark that does not last long.

The mosquitoes here leave quite large lumps on me that will be inflamed and sore/itchy for a week or so.

fryup

riffmongous wrote: »

Ankles and incredibly itchy could be grass mites (chiggers) imo. Worst few days of my life with them after I napped in some grass one sunny morning

grass mites never knew they existed, you learn something new everyday

plastic glass

fryup wrote: »

^^^^^^^^^^

could be fleas, check your bedsheets and the inner lining of your trouser legs

So I only get fleas for 2/3 weeks a year? Maybe!

riffmongous

fryup wrote: »

grass mites never knew they existed, you learn something new everyday

If you ever get them, you'll wish they never existed :pac:

NomadicGray

Do Harvest Mites go for humans? My dog used to suffer a lot from them when we lived in Kildare, i never knew if he got them in our garden or along the canal walks

riffmongous

NomadicGray wrote: »

Do Harvest Mites go for humans? My dog used to suffer a lot from them when we lived in Kildare, i never knew if he got them in our garden or along the canal walks

Yep they are the more or less the same mites that go for humans as far as I can tell

Pandiculation

Almost definitely mosquitos, especially if at dusky type hours.

If you've a lot of them, just try and eliminate stagnant water. They tend to breed in that kind of environment.

Also if you get some insect repellent and just apply it to the ankles and other exposed spots you shouldn't' have much hassle.

There are a whole load of types of mosquito native to Ireland. We seem to imagine that they never existed before, but in a lot of areas near water in particular, we have several annoying biting insects.

I have had REALLY nasty mosquito bites (big flat throbbing wheal on skin) in recent years and have actually bought the plug-in devices you'd use on the continent - managed to find some three pin versions for use in Cyprus and they worked a charm.

Black garden ants don't really bite. Red ants can do though, and are present on the south coast e.g. around parts of Cork City.

fryup

mosquitos?? i don't know ..is the temperature high enough for them at the mo? its usually at the height of summer you get them

midges - yes seen plenty of them about esp at dusk

i still maintain the numero uno culprit is the flea, so check your bedsheets folks

^^^ and most common fleas to attack humans are from pets. They don't particularly like humans, but will in a pinch ( bad pun intended).

Pandiculation

Mosquitos lifecycle is fairly rapid and they’ll activate in short bursts or warm weather.

Despite the myth, we’ve a lot of mosquito species native to Ireland and they’re adapted to short bursts of good weather and changeable conditions.

You can get them in one particular location, and not another. So for example in southern areas, south facing hills with a lot of sunshine, damp / boggy soil, areas with water features, proximity to rivers and urban “heat islands” with a lot of shelter and concrete surfaces, notably central Dublin and Cork, you’ll get them.

Cork City for example has all of the above conditions.

I’ve encountered and caught mosquitoes in my house in April and as late as November and they’re definitely mosquitoes. Often it’ll be just a solitary individual and I’ll wake up a big wheal on my foot or similar exposed locations.

We had it so bad last year they the only solution was to get mosquito plugs and operate them for about 2 hours before using the bedrooms.

Because they’re not as prevalent as continental Europe and the USA, we’ve a bit of a myth that they never existed here or that they are recent arrivals due up travel. It seems they’ve been here all along.

muddypaws

I've had a few bites recently and had bad reactions, there is a theory that if you have haemochromatosis, which is common in Ireland, that the iron you store makes you very attractive to the little biting creatures. I've been advised to take B12 supplements, hopefully it'll work, as my forehead currently looks so bad that I'm having to constantly wear a hat.

Pandiculation

There are a lot of theories on why they pick certain people, but the most plausible ones I've heard are that simply some people have more accessible capillaries and small blood vessels close to the surface of their skin than others and they're basically an easy meal.

If you typically run warmer, you've been doing hard work in the garden or it's a warm day you'll quite likely have dilated vessels closer to your skin surface as it's part of our cooling mechanism.

Certain very commonly used modern blood pressure medications e.g. ACE or ACE2 inhibitors, that work by relaxing your blood vessels and may make it easier for mosquitoes too.

The reaction that you get to blood sucking insects is to an anticoagulant they inject into the skin. They don't just bite, they actually inject a biological agent that temporarily prevents a clot forming, so they can access the blood more easily. That's what some people react to and some people become more reactive to it with exposure, as your immune system identifies it and mounts a defence.

There are lots of reasons, but mostly it's just that you're an easier target than, say a bird as we're fairly hairless and definitely fatherless.

blackbox

Pandiculation wrote: »

we're fairly hairless and definitely fatherless.

Speak for yourself!

Pandiculation

blackbox wrote: »

Speak for yourself!

Well, yeah .. but I mean in comparison to an animal with fur or a thick coat like a dog, fox, squirrel, rodent etc that might be in the vicinity. We're all just a big slow moving mosquito buffet.