Under attack from midgies!

legend99 · 13-09-2020 9:13pm #1

Does anyone have any advice on best way to keep the midgies from biting? I had to actually give up in the garden this evening as I had dozens and dozens and dozens of them surrounding me and basically attacking me - it was insane. Anyone have any advice re a good spray from a chemist that works - or a homemade approach etc?
Thanks

Captcha · 13-09-2020 9:19pm

wear a cross around your neck and do a line of garlic powder

Davidious · 13-09-2020 9:20pm

burn some newspapers, they hate the smoke, if u have the smell of smoke on you they will leave u alone

Water John · 13-09-2020 9:21pm

A product called Autan, spray it on yourself, get it in a pharmacy.

Infernal Racket · 13-09-2020 9:22pm

Blast em with piss

NIMAN · 13-09-2020 9:22pm

I used to get eaten by flies on nice simmer evenings when I would be mowing the lawns.

In the ears, all over the face, head etc! Must have been the sweat.

I found this kind of stuff worked for them, but not sure how it would work for the midgies

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/291587568

legend99 · 13-09-2020 9:31pm

Infernal Racket wrote: »

Blast em with piss

Not sure how my neighbours would react if they saw me out the back with my ******* out, waving it around as it tried to take out several hundred midgies!

Infernal Racket · 13-09-2020 9:40pm

legend99 wrote: »

Not sure how my neighbours would react if they saw me out the back with my ******* out, waving it around as it tried to take out several hundred midgies!

They'll understand, they've probably tried it themselves. It's a tried and tested way to rid all annoying creatures.

legend99 · 13-09-2020 10:08pm

Infernal Racket wrote: »

They'll understand, they've probably tried it themselves. It's a tried and tested way to rid all annoying creatures.

If the timing was wrong I could end up with one biting me in said location......!!!

legend99 · 13-09-2020 11:07pm

Covered now in red spots from the little feckers. So itchy so took Piriton tablet as someone here has them for hayfever. Maybe a bee keepers outfit but would be a killer when you're doing hard labour and are very warm!
Difficult to believe that evolution didn't give us some way to stop biting bloody insects.

Hmm. Actually there are suits to wear: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01I31QUG0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6JPxFbGH9B1N1

Zzippy · 14-09-2020 11:11am

Some pharmacies, esecially in the west, stock Smidge - it's a repellent spray containing natural ingredients like citronella that midges hate. Other sprays like autan, etc contain harsh checmicals. I've found Smidge works really well.
If you can get it, Avon Skin So Soft is renowned - it has a high concentration of citronella, and is used by the royal marines, among many others, and anglers who fish in western Ireland and Scotland have been using it for years.

legend99 · 14-09-2020 6:33pm

Zzippy wrote: »

Some pharmacies, esecially in the west, stock Smidge - it's a repellent spray containing natural ingredients like citronella that midges hate. Other sprays like autan, etc contain harsh checmicals. I've found Smidge works really well.
If you can get it, Avon Skin So Soft is renowned - it has a high concentration of citronella, and is used by the royal marines, among many others, and anglers who fish in western Ireland and Scotland have been using it for years.

Thanks. I'll have a look for that one. Amazon won't ship it but I'll try elsewhere

endacl · 14-09-2020 6:36pm

Avoid early evenings, or wear a full-body condom.

Citronella doesn’t work. Sprays don’t really either. Long sleeves and a midge net will do the trick. They’ll only get your hands.

https://www.greatoutdoors.ie/shop/lifesystems-mosquito-head-net-hat

Zzippy · 14-09-2020 10:33pm

endacl wrote: »

Avoid early evenings, or wear a full-body condom.

Citronella doesn’t work. Sprays don’t really either. Long sleeves and a midge net will do the trick. They’ll only get your hands.

https://www.greatoutdoors.ie/shop/lifesystems-mosquito-head-net-hat

Citronella certainly does work. I spend a lot of time in Connemara, where midges hunt by the biklion. I get eaten alive if I don't use a repellent. I have found Smidge as good as jungle formula or autan, and it is a lot less harmful.

Godeatsboogers · 14-09-2020 10:37pm

Can of lynx and a lighter?

Alun · 14-09-2020 10:38pm

One more recommendation for Smidge, I use it all the time now for hiking. Avon Skin so Soft used to work well too, but I think they changed the recipe a while back and it doesn't seem to work as well.

I get my Smidge here https://www.adventure.ie/adventure-events-ireland/where-to-buy-smidge-in-ireland/

Happy4all · 14-09-2020 10:41pm

legend99 wrote: »

Not sure how my neighbours would react if they saw me out the back with my ******* out, waving it around as it tried to take out several hundred midgies!

They'd probably think you were doing a Conor MC Gregor impersonation

bob mcbob · 15-09-2020 10:11am

Are they as bad as this?

legend99 · 15-09-2020 12:56pm

bob mcbob wrote: »

Are they as bad as this?

Jaysus!! I feel itchy just watching it!! Thankfully not at that level!

GreeBo · 15-09-2020 4:54pm

They are attracted to dark clothing and CO2, so you want full length long sleeves and trousers, tucked in everywhere and try to avoid staying in the same place for long periods of time. (they will be invited in by the pools of CO2 that you breathe out)

Burning anything nearby should be enough to keep them away, I have used several DEET products to zero effect over the years.

Dark, hot and sweaty will bring them on, no matter what you are doing to cause those conditions!

NIMAN · 15-09-2020 5:02pm

legend99 wrote: »

Maybe a bee keepers outfit but would be a killer when you're doing hard labour and are very warm!

I mentioned flies in and around my ears and head earlier rather than midgies, and I once said to OH that I was going to buy one of those oz hats with the girls hanging off it.

I was told not to be buying one and looking like an idiot! That's ok but coming from someone who never cuts the grass and gets eaten.

GreeBo · 15-09-2020 5:31pm

I'm not convinced that a beekeepers outfit would stop those tiny buggers (the ones that do all the biting in my experience)

Chong · 15-09-2020 7:55pm

I am riddled with stings from cutting the grass Sunday night, I was out for 2 mins to the bin tonight, stung again.

Water John · 15-09-2020 7:59pm

There's no doubt they are fonder of some people.

Graces7 · 17-09-2020 11:33am

They adore me. I have been sneaking out early picking berries to avoid them but the word soon goes round. When I was market trading outdoors the only way was to take a large plain net curtain and drape it over my head and hands.

Avoidance is the only thing that really works.. As long as there is no wind, I stay indoors.

They call them noseeums in some places in the US.

Under attack from midgies!

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