insects

[justineo]

which are the insects that suck your blood and cause those really annoying, itching red lumps, on a summers evening. I've heard them called mosquitoes, gnats, midges, can anyone tell me which insects they are? 

[spudqueen]

In my case ALL of them I think!

[KARL]

You don't say where you live but there is a mite which basically lives in soil and gets onto you and "bites" - I am not quite sure whether there is more to it (i.e. whether it lays eggs under the skin, as some parasites do). These are referred to as "berry bugs" in some parts of Britain, but known as "chiggers" in north america. They seem to be selective (or else some people are not so sensitive and don't itch) rather like midges and mosquitos but I am one of the lucky ones who are extremely popular with all three.

You are most unlikely ever to catch sight of the bugs but the other two are winged and generally very obviously visible. The best way to deal with the bugs is to strip off when you come in and have a quick shower (put the clothes into the washing) - the bugs famously go for all warm areas of the skin (yes, including there). Mosquito milk (see Boots, etc.) is very good at repelling the other two.

Before you get too worried - even if the bugs do lay eggs on us, they are most certainly not the only parasite living within us, they just are not talked about and we all live quite happily as hosts to contented creatures. There are lots of different sources of information on this if you want to look it up.

[mongos bird]

While fortunate enough to live near open water and woodland, the beauty of the place is often overridden by the midges it brings out on balmy summer evenings.  The little blighters are only a few millimetres in length but you can feel them bite and the red itchy lumps that quickly appear last for days! Apparently it's only the females that bite.  Mosquitoes are related to midges but are larger, again it's only the females that do the damage, looking for nourishment for her eggs.