Sunday, September 15, 2013
Sunday, September 08, 2013
Don't blame those pesky mosquitoes
I like bugs. I know it's insane, but they're so fascinating. Yet, I'm really not a fan of biting blood-sucking bugs like mosquitoes - never have been - growing up in Michigan is part of my aversion to those annoying, high-pitched flying things that bite. And when a mosquito bites me, it generally does not start itching for a day or two, then it swells up to the size of a quarter, and that's when I know I've been visited by a mosquito, or two.
But - even with all their annoying habits of biting me, mosquitoes are not as bothersome as the minuscule midge. These little critter bites sting and itch instantly - and for people like me who are allergic to almost every insect venom there is - these little bites itch for days, even longer sometimes than a week.
As a kid, I remember always getting bitten outdoors, but never actually seeing the critter that bit me. I started to watch and see what it was. I still do this, watching with interest the little "dot" that pokes a hole in my skin.
So what's a midge? Well, it depends on where you live really, as to what you might call them. For instance, in the northeast, they often go by the name "punkies" while in the lower midwest and southern states, they're widely known as "no-see-ums" due to their tiny size. In Florida they go by the name "five-0's" because they start really biting around 5 PM. Folks in Alabama call them "pinyon gnats." In some parts of the world they're called "sand flies." Canada has an interesting name - "moose flies" and in California I have a distinct recollection of people calling them "pecker flies." Please don't ask me to explain that one.
Bottom line is, these tiny biting gnats are the most irritating of all biting insects next to ticks. My arms are covered with welts from just sitting outsides last night - and nothing really deters them. They aren't bothered by insect repellent, DEET does not even affect them (not that I would use that on my skin!) and citronella doesn't interfere with their determination, once they've been attracted by a sweet tasting host.
What's most annoying is that some people seem immune to them. William, for instance, says he's never been bitten by one at all. That really irks me.
It almost seem like they're more attracted to girls, as I watch two naked children outdoors, one swatting her legs while playing, the other having no bugs around him at all.
When I say they're tiny, I mean it. Smaller than your tiniest freckle, if you're not watching for them, you likely won't even notice they've landed. They can fit through the mesh in screened windows, which is why, in many places, people close their windows around 4:30 in the afternoon.
There are actually quite a few species of these buggers, the ones I see are tiny, green ones, but the ones in California I remember were more black.
They love exposed skin but have never bitten me on the face that I recall - it's almost always my arms that get attacked. If I wear long sleeves it does seem to reduce the biting but not completely, as the midge is so tiny it can go right through the fibers if it's determined to such my blood.
At least, for a mosquito, you can use insect repellent or bath oil and they leave you alone. But midges are a different story. I may have to learn to live with them, but I'm never going to enjoy them.
But - even with all their annoying habits of biting me, mosquitoes are not as bothersome as the minuscule midge. These little critter bites sting and itch instantly - and for people like me who are allergic to almost every insect venom there is - these little bites itch for days, even longer sometimes than a week.
As a kid, I remember always getting bitten outdoors, but never actually seeing the critter that bit me. I started to watch and see what it was. I still do this, watching with interest the little "dot" that pokes a hole in my skin.
So what's a midge? Well, it depends on where you live really, as to what you might call them. For instance, in the northeast, they often go by the name "punkies" while in the lower midwest and southern states, they're widely known as "no-see-ums" due to their tiny size. In Florida they go by the name "five-0's" because they start really biting around 5 PM. Folks in Alabama call them "pinyon gnats." In some parts of the world they're called "sand flies." Canada has an interesting name - "moose flies" and in California I have a distinct recollection of people calling them "pecker flies." Please don't ask me to explain that one.Bottom line is, these tiny biting gnats are the most irritating of all biting insects next to ticks. My arms are covered with welts from just sitting outsides last night - and nothing really deters them. They aren't bothered by insect repellent, DEET does not even affect them (not that I would use that on my skin!) and citronella doesn't interfere with their determination, once they've been attracted by a sweet tasting host.
What's most annoying is that some people seem immune to them. William, for instance, says he's never been bitten by one at all. That really irks me.
It almost seem like they're more attracted to girls, as I watch two naked children outdoors, one swatting her legs while playing, the other having no bugs around him at all.
When I say they're tiny, I mean it. Smaller than your tiniest freckle, if you're not watching for them, you likely won't even notice they've landed. They can fit through the mesh in screened windows, which is why, in many places, people close their windows around 4:30 in the afternoon.
There are actually quite a few species of these buggers, the ones I see are tiny, green ones, but the ones in California I remember were more black.
They love exposed skin but have never bitten me on the face that I recall - it's almost always my arms that get attacked. If I wear long sleeves it does seem to reduce the biting but not completely, as the midge is so tiny it can go right through the fibers if it's determined to such my blood.
At least, for a mosquito, you can use insect repellent or bath oil and they leave you alone. But midges are a different story. I may have to learn to live with them, but I'm never going to enjoy them.
Monday, September 02, 2013
Papa's tired pup
A long weekend with Papa ended in exhausted (and a little grumpy) kiddos who sure had a great time with Papa. Obi barely made it through his "Pizzi" before collapsing for the last time tonight. He's not going to be happy when he wakes up to find Papa gone. But he's oblivious now.
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