Please tell me about the bugs at Vero!!!

[laura6598]

I was talking to a woman the other day and told her we were going to Vero Beach this coming weekend and she said that a friend of hers came back with all kinds of bug bites on her legs!! She said they weren't mosquitos but some kind of "bug". Does anyone know what kind of "bugs" they are??? We are going to Vero this Saturday and I guess I need to know what kind of BUG SPRAY to pack!!! I am hoping that they are some sort of bug that are seasonal and they will be gone by this weekend!! Oh No!!



Laura

 

[lovetotravel1974]

Originally posted by laura6598
IDoes anyone know what kind of "bugs" they are??? We are going to Vero this Saturday and I guess I need to know what kind of BUG SPRAY to pack!!!

We just got back Friday from VB. The bugs you are talking about are called "no see ums". As long as you have bug spray with "Deet" in it you will be fine. They only come out in the evening after the sun goes down. We didn't have a problem with them at all because we sprayed anyone going out to the pool or ocean after 6:00 pm.

 

[lovetotravel1974]

No-See-ums ........

WHAT IS AN INSECT? A mosquito is an insect. This means it has no backbone, has six legs, and has three body parts (head, thorax (middle), and abdomen (back end). It also means that mosquitoes go through a metamorphosis or series of changes while they’re growing up. Mosquitoes start as eggs, then become larvae (called wrigglers), then become a pupa, then become an adult.

WHAT IS A NO-SEE-UM? No-see-ums are tiny biting flies that often live near water. You often see many of themswarming together in a cloud. Keep your mouth shut or you might breathe some in or swallow them! (It won’t hurt you, but it will probably make you cough.) Biting midges are called no-see-ums because they’re so tiny that it is hard to see ‘um. No-see-ums are less than ¼ of an inch long.

WHERE DO NO-SEE-UMS LIVE? They often stay in shrubs or the thick layer of dead leaves that naturally covers the ground. Scrubbing your feet around in the leaves is a good way to get them stirred up. Don’t do it! Most no-see-ums never fly more than 350 feet from their breeding area, so if they’re bothering you, you might be able to get away from them by moving a few yards

WHY DO NO-SEE-UMS BITE? Only the females bite and suck blood. They need the protein in this blood to make their eggs. No-see-ums will take blood from mammals, birds, and reptiles. Male no-see-ums are nectar feeders and do not bite. While the bite is not painful, it becomes very itchy. Some people get a red spot 1-2 inches wide! Try not to scratch the bites; it makes them itch longer and can make the bites get infected. No-see-um larvae (babies) can be found in water, mud, or moist dead leaves. They especially like to live in the dying plants along the edge of a salt marsh. The larvae eat dead plant and animal matter.

HOW CAN YOU AVOID NO-SEE-UM BITES? The best way to avoid getting bitten by no-see-ums is to wear insect repellent when you are outside in the spring, summer, and fall. Also, move quickly away from the areas where they’re swarming. If you get far enough away, they won’t follow you.

 

[laura6598]

HOLY COW lovetotravel1974, when I said "tell me about the bugs at Vero" you really told me!!! Thank you so much, I hope I didn't put you out too much tonite, gosh, I feel guilty that I didn't look up the information myself!!! Ok, so I guess I will definately be packing insect repellent (due to those nasty females!!) Thanks again!!


Laura

 

[JimC]

Excellent summary Lovetotravel1974

 

[DerbyVacationClubber]

Speaking from experience, watched movie last night at the VB pool, they are relatively active right now. Received several bites in places 'protected' by clothing. Did not have on any insecticide. Our son played in the pool and was spared. I have heard about the no-seeums at VB and they really are low on my worries list...seat belts, poison ivy, cuts, undertow, etc... Enjoy your trip here without to much worry about these pests.

 

[ttfn3]

Well, I haven't been to Vero Beach in the summer. However, I have been to several other Florida beaches in the summer. I would strongly suggest that you make sure you have bug repellant on before you go outside starting at dusk. Those nasty little no-see-ums leave such painful bites. Once you get a bite, you will have MANY, MANY bites. And, believe me, those bites are so much worse than mosquito bites. They will leave nasty welts and will last for days. The best repellant that we found was a product called Cactus Juice (we found this stuff in Sanibel). If you do a google search, you will find info on the product. It comes in a lotion and it's not oily. Smells good too. If you do get bites, the best remedy I have found is Lanocane.

 

[BobH]

One thing I have found about the no see ums that is aggravating is that they are so small you really don't notice it when they bite only to discover later on that I have been bitten many, many times. They also seem to itch for days longer than any mosquito bite I am accustomed to. It is nice when you have a breeze at Vero so you can forget about the bug repellant.

 

[BobH]

Thanks ttfn3. I located the cactus juice website and there are store locators on it I intend to try it. Any idea what the ingredients are?

http://www.cactusjuicetm.com

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Having lived in Vero, I can tell you that the no-see-ums are nasty little critters. I'd suggest wearing a cap, too, because they can get in your scalp and bite.

The other notorious varmit is the palmetto bug, sort of a roach on steroids. You stomp 'em and they just hobble off, not having enough sense to know they're dead. They're harmless, but disgusting.

 

[ttfn3]

Bob
I actually have part of a bottle of Cactus Juice leftover from our last vacation. I bought the one with the sunscreen since it's a non-oily lotion. It states "Kid Safe Non-Toxic". "Containing no harmful chemicals and formulated with your health in mind... " Listed ingredients: Sunscreen Actives: Octisalate 5%, Oxbenzone 4%, Octinoxate 3.5% Skin Protectant Active: Dimethicone 1% Ingredients: Cactus Extract, Water, Propylene Glycol Myristyl Ether Acetate, Mineral Oil USP, d-Limonene, Laureth-4, Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Polysorbate 60, Cetyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Methyl Paraben (and) Propyl Paraben (Germaben II). Whew!! That was tough!!! Hope this helps!

This stuff really works! I just placed an order for our summer trip.

 

[gracelrm]

Mosquitoes and No See'ums both bother my DH a great deal, but usually don't bother me too bad. Anyway, we bought Cactus Juice in HH on our last visit and DH did not feel like it helped him at all. So, one vote for Deet over Cactus Juice.

 

[laura6598]

Ok, these no see-ums do sound annoying!! My other quick question is are they out all day, or are they out just at dusk or night like mosquitos? Sorry if I missed this, but I skimmed all of the replies and I don't think I saw anything on it! BTW, I think I'm going for the bug spray as well. We're going to be at Vero this Saturday and I don't think I'll have time to order any special "juice"!! Ugh, I guess I'd rather have no see-ums than those NASTY UGLY Palmetto bugs!! I hope I don't run into any ot those!! Gives me chills!! EEEWWW!!!!



Laura

 

[kaf7878]

We just got back Monday and the noseums are out! I got bit abt 2 dozen times on the backs of my legs but didn't even know it until the next day. They are only around at night though. I didn't have bug spray on either.