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Index of Subjects When i first saw this posting a week ago my first thought went insect bites thinking "no -see- ums " those small midges. This insect can be from one of many families of Nematoceran - Diptera goup. Like mosquitoes, gestating female no-see-ums hungry for protein search for a "blood meal." Though one-third the size of a mosquito, its bite is inversely more painful. While mosquito bites cause raised lumps on the skin that become very itchy, they can be soothed with calomine lotion, Benadryl, or aloe vera. No-seeum bites result in typically a whole bunch of red welts that irritate the skin, are slow to deflate, and cause three to four days of severe itching. No-see-ums on the beach will bite most often on the ankles and lower legs, just because they're closer to the ground. But if you're unlucky enough to pass through a dark swarm of them, no part of your body is off limits and they could fly into your eyes, ears, nose or mouth. Every person reacts differently to no-see-um bites. Two people may receive an equal number of bites, and one will not be affected while the other will turn into a walking pincushion. There are also fleas ie sand fleas that can do that kind damage on lower legs too. DB -----Original Message----- From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Martin Alpert Sent: August-25-10 9:26 AM To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] blackfly bites, or what are they I had to see a doctor for something else and showed my legs - he was sure they were insect bites. Its one week today - there only slightly less red, but luckily they don't itch at all, or cause any discomfort. As an aside - as a kid I showed no reaction to poison ivy. Pulling it out by hand. I hear that can change. Marty On 8/25/10, Paul S. Boyer <psboyer@eastlink.ca> wrote: > I would rule out the chiggers and the poison ivy. I am very familiar with both. > > The chigger bites I have experienced are never in the spaced, constellation-distribution you describe. They also are unlikely to be on open parts of the legs, but rather where clothing is tight, like around the belt-line. > > Poison ivy produces irregular areas of reaction, depending on where the oil from the leaves (and other parts of the plant) has made contact. There is some poison ivy in Nova Scotia, but it is relatively uncommon: I have had to point it out to many long-time residents. In my opinion, it should be treated as a noxious plant, and should be eliminated as quickly as possible wherever it is found. > > The location of the spots on your legs suggests more some nettle-like plant, for some of the various biting insects which have been suggested would just as likely have bitten your arms, next, and upper body parts. > > > > On Aug 22, 2010, at 9:36 AM, Martin Alpert wrote: > > > I walked last thurs into North River Fall, in shorts. > > On my lower leg I had quite a few, what looked like, black fly bites. Some 40 on each leg, randomly spaced - not like I brushed into some noxious plant. > > Usually they are no problem and the next day they are almost gone. > > These itch a little. > > Today is Sunday and there really red and slightly raised. > > Anybody know what happened? > > > > Marty > > -- Martin D. Alpert Alpert Electric RR#5 Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2L3 902-863-5496
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