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August
4, 2001
by Kate Nelson
Scripps Howard News Service
How do I know it's summer? Let
me count the welts.
Up and down my arms. Around my
ankles. Along my hairline. In a particularly
difficult-to-scratch point on my back. And
clustered around my belly button.
The "no-see-ums" are at it
again. This year's twist was the bite that
caused my left forearm to swell up for one day
before festering into quarter-sized blisters.
Lovely.
The itching sensation of each
no-see-um bite can last for a week, and fighting
the urge to scratch can turn your brain into a
searing mass of agony. You will lose sleep. You
will snap at co-workers. You will develop scars
that can last for months.
Biting midges of barely
discernible heft wreak this havoc all across the
Southwest. Dubbed "no-see-ums" in some areas,
they're called "hequenes" in Mexico and punkies
in Britain. The females, seeking blood to
complete their reproductive cycle, feed on pets,
birds and, tragically, gardeners.
No-see-ums thrive in coastal
areas, so beware if you're a besieged gardener
who dreams of getting away from the bugs by
snorkeling in the tropics. Yet despite their
coastal leanings, they've also learned to like
canyons and the shifty topsoil of the desert. In
the booming cities of the West, that means they
get the best of both worlds: shifty topsoil
and lots of blood to suck.
A survival guide:
- Kill and repel them:
Hummingbirds can eat
hundreds of no-see-ums a day, so hang a few
feeders near the nasties' hangouts.
Consider getting a B12
injection to alter the flavor of your blood.
Adding brewer's yeast to your diet can
accomplish a similar effect. Burn citronella
candles or incense. Buy a variety of
aromatic oils and lotions to slather on your
skin. Among them: Avon Skin-So-Soft; the
essential oils of tea tree, lavender or
pennyroyal; and a pungent concoction called
Buzz Away, containing cedarwood, eucalyptus,
lemongrass and peppermint oils, available at
health-food stores in wipes, sprays and skin
patches. (Smith & Hawken sells a similar mix
of eucalyptus, rosemary, bay and olive oils
called Bug Off.)
Be aware that some
commercial repellents feature the chemicals
Deet or Permethrin, which carry health risks
for children. And pregnant women should
never use pennyroyal.
Some American Indians
recommend smearing yourself with bear
grease. Navajos fill a tin can with sheep
dung, set it on fire and stand in the smoke.
Hey, if the biting gets bad enough, give it
a whirl.
- Treat the wounds:
Stock up on one or all of
these: Calamine lotion, Benadryl, creams
that contain cortisone or menthol, Anbesol
gum-pain reliever, Chloraseptic throat
soother, a pocket clip called After-Bite,
and an herbal extract called Itch-Away that
contains the leaves of grindelia flower,
plantain and witch hazel.
I've heard that Old Spice
stick deodorant can ease the pain, as can a
paste made from meat tenderizer. And never
underestimate the power of ice packs and a
bottle of your favorite liquor.
- Be patient:
No-see-ums are indulging
in a breeding frenzy right now. Soon,
they'll die off or at least thin out.
Afterward, you'll still be here, welts and
all.
(Kate Nelson is a master
gardener in Albuquerque, N.M. Send e-mail to
knelson@abqtrib.com.)
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