What is it that keeps biting me?

[banana]

It seems that every time I spend some time in the garden I wake the next day with loads of little itchy bumps.People say they are 'midge' bites - but how on earth do they manage to bite? Ive yet to see one of these creatures - or are they microscopic? Im usually very sensitive to anything on my skin and yet there are the tell tale bumps -arrrggghh.

[mikewith]

Are you sure it isn't an allergic reaction to the grass? That's the explanation I've been given for a similar complaint. Annoying, isn't it?!

[Cetti]

Are you female, banana? Midges, mozzies etc love women - I'm sure there is a scientific answer,but it is a fact. My husband, or any male in my family can stay out of doors all day without any problem - I go out for 10 minutes, and my arms and legs are covered in lumps - and no, I don't see them either!! You can get cover yourself in Mosiguard or Jungle Formula - I tend to forget, though.

There could be something in what Mike says too - grass allergy.

[Kit]

Another explanation could be physical irritation, rather than an allergy as such - I get irritated by the prickly ends of grass blades etc when they're dry. Midges are pretty small, although visible, but have disproportionately big teeth - ask anyone who's ever been to the West of Scotland!
(Incidentally, Cetti, we have the opposite problem - my hubby gets eaten alive while I am relatively unscathed - apparently mozzies like smelly feet, which explains why they like my hubby, but I'm SURE it can't be the reason in your case....) :)

[Cetti]

Indeed it cannot, Kit :-D

[banana]

Hmmmm. Smelly feet - I dont think so... I can see that grass allergy might be possible - although I dont know how the bumps that come up on my neck and beclothed torso are explained . Midges (if Im right they are the little blighters that fly in clouds under trees etc) are pretty annoying when sitting outside - BUT you do normally see them to swat. Im just curious as to why -when on the look out for them - you never seem to see one land -and yet there are the bumps to prove it. Just had a thought - perhaps they have tiny midge-to-body missiles that can pierce layers of clothing.

[Janetex]

I suffer terribly with midges; they don't bite you, they secrete a substance onto your skin. It's true that females suffer from them more than males. The only real way to avoid them is to cover up really well.