Dreaded Bugs (was The Dreaded Love Bugs thread)

[Twilight Terror]

Edited: Please see post #7 now!

We frequently go in September to WDW, and at some point during our holidays, the love bugs start to appear. We always take sun lotion that has in-built insect repellent, and have taken a few other potions and such.

While my mum and I seem to be okay, the love bugs seem to think my sister is gourmet cuisine, and feast on her the entire time. She always seems to have quite a reaction to the bites.

So, since everything from the UK does not seem to repel these things, is there anything any repeat trippers/Floridians can recommend that we pick up from Walmart when we arrive to make sure they don't start attacking my sister again????

Also, are there any effective creams that we can get to deal directly with these kinds of bites. We currently use Sudacream, Antisan or Hydrocortisone Cream to treat the bites, none of which seems to have that good effect.

 

[sympatico]

You may not believe this but lovebugs don't bite. They're just a nuisance and will land on you but they don't bite. She must have been bitten by some other kind of bug.
We were down a few years ago in Sept and they were horrible. Had a few land on me but didn't bite. I had never seen them before because we usually go in the winter so I did some internet searches and found out that they don't bite. We didn't use any insect repellent either.

 

[Twilight Terror]

You may not believe this but lovebugs don't bite. They're just a nuisance and will land on you but they don't bite. She must have been bitten by some other kind of bug.
We were down a few years ago in Sept and they were horrible. Had a few land on me but didn't bite. I had never seen them before because we usually go in the winter so I did some internet searches and found out that they don't bite. We didn't use any insect repellent either.

Well that's some very interesting information. I did ask her if it was definitely the love bugs, and she said that normally mum would brush one off of her, and then a bite would appear. It could very likely be something other than love bugs, I suppose, or a very strange allergic reaction to them!

 

[sympatico]

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g28930-c73116/Florida:United-States:Love.Bugs.html
http://www.myspacecoast.com/Articles/lovebugs.htm

 

[Tampa Mousekeeter]

You may not believe this but lovebugs don't bite.

that's right....I don't get what the deal is with this question always on the DIS boards...the only issue with the love bugs is they eat the paint off your car so you need to wipe them off as soon as you see them...leave them alone they are in love....

 

[lustergirl]

We have been in september many times and encounter these wonderful little creatures. For some reason they like what and seem to stick to the lower part of your legs. We found if we didnt wear whites socks or sneakers they wouldn't be as bad. Good Luck!! They really are quite harmless though.

 

[Twilight Terror]

Okay, so in light that it is not love bugs doing the biting, something is. So, any good general insect repellent sprays, lotions or potions that may help to keep my sister bite-free for this holiday??

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Okay, so in light that it is not love bugs doing the biting, something is. So, any good general insect repellent sprays, lotions or potions that may help to keep my sister bite-free for this holiday??

I think what you are talking about is call " no see um"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratopogonidae

 

[redheadx3]

Oh lovely love bugs. We have love bugs flying everywhere right now.
They do not bite. I would suspect that it is an allergic reaction to either the lotion/repellent or to the actuall love bug touching the skin. Try an allergy medicine before leaving for the parks and see if that helps.
Avoid light colored clothing, especially white. For whatever reason they are attracted to white.

 

[Twilight Terror]

I think what you are talking about is call " no see um"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceratopogonidae

If this was the insects responsible, which it sounds like as the lumpy (bite) marks usually lasted for a good few days to a week, is there any sprays or lotions that she could use as a repellent against these particular things, or are they just those annoying kind of bugs that nothing works on? Thanks

 

[Bagheera23608]

I'm with a pp - I just don't get the lovebug posts. I mean I grew up with them and have always been around them, so maybe I am bit de-sensitized, but they are harmless little critters. They don't bite. I also agree that she is prolly being "bugged" (I know - HA HA! at self) by no-see-ums. This may surprise you, but insects do tend to bother one person in a group and leave others alone. I try to be near my mom or my hubby when gnats or mosquitoes are biting since they seem to like their tastes more than mine!

And just so there's no confusion - lovebugs don't eat the paint on your car - their poor acidic squashed corpses do. If you're concerned about your car's paint job and there are a TON of unfortunate lovebugs on it, wash it as soon as you get home from your trip. (Before that would be a waste of time!)

PS - I would suggest any bug repellent since we don't know exactly it is that is biting her. But in case it is sensitive skin, I would stick with a dermatologist's recommendation for repellent (being a person with super sensitive skin myself) Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[larry80]

When we went to Disney in 2007 we were quite surprised by these bugs

Luckily it was the last 2 days of our 10 day stay. They don't bite, they're just annoying.

On my drive back to 95 I had so many coat my windshield I had to pull into a gas station and scrub my windshield off. I went through the first car wash once I got to 95 and it hardly made any difference.

Not to mention the smell of their crushed bodies.. if I ever drive again in that season I'll be sure to get a screen for my car. I was finding their bodies for over a year all inside my engine compartment

This year we are flying!

 

[aprilp]

Another former-floridian here seconding (or thirding or fourthing) that the love-bugs dont bite. It could totally be that she has a weird allergic reaction to them, though I've never heard of that or grew up with anyone who had that problem. It could definitely also be the no-see-ums....they are horrible! We have them here in Georgia too and they absolutely love me. You cant see them and you cant feel them until they bite you. Grrrr...hate those things! Definitely bugspray or wearing pants is the only thing that will help. Or just go later in the year. No heat, no bugs!

larry80: people laugh now at those black bug bras we used to have for the front of our cars but I think everyone driving in florida during lovebug season all should have one. They may look funny but they work great!