by dob99 » Sat Oct 01, 2016 1:53 am
In general, the secret, I fond, is simply to cover up, and hat which you can't cover, slap on anything which tastes "nasty" to them (I swear by Avon Skin So Soft)
Secondly is to be sensible - most biting insects like a combination of warmth, high humidity, and still air
The West Coast is legendary for midges, especially in late summer - this august I witnessed a swarm the likes of which I've only seen with bees, you could measure their thickness on the window sill with a ruler!
So much for midges, I can just about cope with them, and I don't seem to react excessively to them (I'm a mild smoker, some say they don't like the taste, but others argue you attract them with the elevated levels of CO2.
I am, however, a tick-magnet - They can find me in the most unlikely locations - avoid long grass,and check yourself regulary - they don't seem to hurt but you don't want to catch Lyme disease (buy an O'Tom tick remover before setting out, ones for animals are just as good for humans!)
Finally, my ultimate hate - clegs! (Horseflies)
They sneak up from behind (seem to be attracted to bright colours, or pale skin) and very softly land - the next thing is you feel the all too familiar stinging of their mandibles chewing at your flesh!
Swat them off as quickly as possible, and clean with an antiseptic or sterile swab, and hope for the best - if you're lucky it'll heal in a week and you won't have picked up an infection!
It's rumored the main reason for the Romans stopping at the Antonine wall is that they couldn't stand the beasties further north - I'm blue-eyed and presumably of indigenous stock - my better half is of sallow complexion and has brown eyes, she only has to think of midges and comes out in lumps, I can be eaten alive and twelve hours later everything is back to normal.
Perhaps genetics has something to do with it?
