Avoiding The Pesky & Painful No-See-Ums
Avoiding the pesky & painful no-see-ums is a vital part of your Island visit. Locals say the most beautiful times to be on Sanibel Island are at sunrise and sunset. In these somewhat cooler twilight hours, one can expect to see fishermen, shell collectors, and sightseers enjoying the fine ambiance of the Gulf of Mexico. Upon closer inspection, one can see that many of these beachgoers keep swatting at their elbows and ankles in an agitated manner. We are referring of course to the crepuscular attack of the no-see-um, a tiny winged insect that is a member of the Culicoides family. No-See-Ums are distinct from mosquitos in that they are much smaller and harder to repel than their disease-vectoring neighbors. This can be particularly vexing, as their bite is generally regarded as being much more irritating than that of the mosquito.
Why Do The “Bites” Itch So Much?
This discussion of bites brings us to an interesting fact; that the bite of the no-see-um is actually no such thing! Unlike the mosquito, which uses its pointed proboscis like a hypodermic needle to extract blood from under the skin, no-see-ums have no such facial appendage. Instead, the no-see-um must let the blood come to it through more passive means. The insect achieves this by regurgitating a small amount of acid onto its victim’s skin. This acid causes a little bit of blood to pool on the application site, which the insect can then lap up in its own quaint little way. The itchy, burning discomfort associated with these bites is due to an allergic reaction to the acid, which is why some people seem to react much more harshly than others to the same amount of exposure.
Solutions From The Locals
Southwest Florida natives have developed a variety of countermeasures the aid in avoiding the pesky & painful no-see-ums over the years through both chemical and mechanical means. We spoke to some local fishing guides and they gave us their own remedies. The easiest method of defense against no-see-ums is obviously to avoid them, and stay away from coastal areas around dawn and dusk when they are most active. For various reasons, this is not an ideal solution, and so it would be more helpful to make use of one of the other local remedies. One such remedy is to apply baby oil or olive oil to exposed skin, especially around the elbows and ankles. According to anecdotal evidence, this method protects the beachgoer from almost all no-see-um activity, as the residue from the oil is too thick for the irritating acid to pass through. It should be noted that this method of no-see-um protection is not suitable for use during the daytime as baby oil can cause the effects of sunburns to become much more pronounced. If circumstances such as allergies or baby oil shortages prevent this from being a viable method, one can make use of bug pants, a kind of trouser made from a fine mesh that is too small for the insects to pass through, but porous enough to allow for comfortable airflow.
Bug Spray
Ben’s 30 Insect Reppelant Wipes.
These wipes recommended by local fishing guide Tadem Stewart (@capt.tadem) Ben’s wipes are his remedy for No-See-ums.
No No-See-Um Natural Insect Repellent.
This all-natural insect repellent protects against noseeums, mosquitoes and biting gnats. Non-toxic and safe for the entire family so you can feel comfortable reapplying as often as necessary.
Avon Skin So Soft Insect Repellent Moisturizing Lotion.
4 Fl oz bottle insect repellent and sunscreen lotion in one. Provides repellent to insects outdoors with protecting your skin from the sun.
Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard with Picaridin.
Soft Skin Bug Guard plus Picaridin Pump Spray Protects against Mosquitoes, Deer Ticks, Gnats, No-Seeums, Sand Flies and biting Midges with DEET-free formula.
Protective Clothing
This is great if you are fishing or investigating some of the nature trails on the island!
Bug pants are exactly that! Pants designed to keep the critters away from your skin!
How about a stylish bug jacket to match your bug pants?
Full mesh, lightweight suit!
Protect the kids to!
Natural Repellants
Use 10 drops of Tea Tree Oil with 2 parts Witch Hazel and 1 part Listerine.
Mix 20 – 30 drops of Basil oil with 1/2 a cup of distilled water & 2 tablespoons of Vodka
Soothing Bites
Hot Water – Heat up some water, but not to boiling point, use a cotton swab to apply the water to the bite.
Toothpaste – Apply to the infected area.
Rubbing Alcohol – Apply to the infected area.
Baking Soda – Mix with water and apply the paste.
Zinc Ointment – Apply to the infected area.
Cold Compress – Apply to the infected area.
