Who's taken a bite...????

[Cetti]

I can't believe I've been bitten already...and at the beginning of February as well!

Did a bit of gardening yesterday in the glorious sunshine, singing along with the birdies...when suddenly I felt a stab on my leg. I looked down to see blood running down and a tiny hole - but no sign of the culprit. Leg now badly swollen and very painful, but still breathing!!

Has anyone else been bitten so early this year or does anyone know who could be responsible?

[Illyria54]

I've actually just killed a mosquito in my lounge so perhaps you got 'mozzied'!

[signsofgoing]

I walked through my Conservatory yesterday, It was Wall to Wall Sunshine & Boiling Hot, I noticed my 2 tiny Kittens were VERY FRISKY. On checking what they were up to I discovewred that they were annoying a FULLY GROWN WASP !!. A Big WASP in February has got to be strange for our country (North West Coast of WALES). Maybe it was a Wasp that got you. By the descrpition of your wound, I would say that this is the answer to your Soreness / Swelling.

[Clanad]

My, my, you are an early bird, Cetti (the temperature here this morning is -21F, long time 'til spring). I suspect you predator was a spider of some sort. Could have been a wasp, as signsofgoing suggests, but those are usually fairly visibile and noticeable. You may have disturbed a slumbering Arachnida who didn't particularly appreciate your early spring good humor. Certainly hope you leg recovers quickly... Good gardening!

[Ice.Maiden]

Seen clouds of "midges", some large houseflies and bees!

[smudge]

We've had two house flies so far this year Cetti - but thankfully, not been bitten - yet! The mozzies usually attack me with a passion!

[weeal]

oh no, I detest beaties of any description, but you dont expect them this early in the UK ! as this planet gets warmer it will probably get worse

eek

[Robinia]

Oh no - the dreaded bites! You didn't have a squirt of Flit before you went out did you Cetti?

You have my sympathy because I look forward to the first days in the garden but with the terror that the bugs are just waiting for me to step outside...I always seem to suffer the most at the beginning & end of the season. As well as mozzies there are some thrip-like things that I react very badly to - no idea what they are but they tend to hide in shrubs & flowers.
After one particularly horrendous experience I try to remember to use repellant on any exposed (!) flesh & although my legs are almost always covered I put some on my feet & ankles to deter the blighters from crawling up!

Hope you have some anti-histamine cream/tablets by now & that it soon subsides....and an ice pack will help too!

[Cetti]

Thank you for your answers and helping me in my time of need and great distress ;-)

I don't think I've been mozzied illyria, although with the size of the hole, possibly a giant one!
A wasp is a might be, signsofgoing, as one was dancing round husband's ear at the same time.
Don't even mention the word arachnida, Clanad. In this country they are well behaved - unlike your little critters ;-)
Ice.Maiden, first of all I thought you said Horseflies, as that is the size of the bite they make.
You just wait smudge, they are on their way to you!
In your part of the world weeal,they don't get into their stride till a bit later, do they?
No, Robinia, I wasn't prepared to be attacked this time of year, although I have a wardrobe full of the stuff. The lump is still huge and kept me awake last night., so if i ever see who did it...I'll pull their wings off. That'll teach 'em!

[Kleiber]

I got bitten yesterday - I think it was a dreaded Welsh midge (not quite as ferocious as the Scottish ones, but nasty, all the same!). And I saw a huge queen wasp in my polytunnel on Saturday. This is west Wales. And the birds have started nesting - mind you, they say that Valentine's day is the start of the nesting season, so we're not too far off.

[Cetti]

Poor you, Kleiber!

Yes, I've heard about the viciousness of your Scottish variety...still not nice though wherever they hail from, is it?

I now know mine was the formidable Blanford Fly - which I thought had been eradicated.....obviously not!!

[LoftyLottie]

Oh no, I'm still bearing loads of horrible scars from being attacked by creatures unknown last August! The thought that they are out and about again fills me with dread!

The only thing is to garden in one of these:

http://img.alibaba.com/photo/11296946/Primera_ Breathable_Protection_Suit.jpg

[Cetti]

That's perfect Lottie!

My husband has ordered me not to step outside the door unless I'm covered from head to toe .....we should both order one of those!