[kskutie76]

After a little internet research, I'm convinced that's what is swarming around my front & back doors. I dread going outside because hundreds, if not thousands, of them are just waiting for me. I enter & exit through my garage door only.

I just moved here though & I had all of these lovely thoughts of enjoying the evenings on my back patio and grilling out with friends. What works to get rid of these things? I don't want to just slather myself in bug spray. I want to do something to kill down the population. Anyone have some tricks they'd be willing to share? By the way, these things don't bite, which is the only thing that makes me uncertain they're no-see-ums. I read those bite. But, then again, maybe they just haven't gotten me yet.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Florida Impressions]

If they were no-see-ums, you'd definitely be getting bitten.

How big are they? Are they small like a gnat, or the size of a small mosquito?

Do you live on the water? Is there a large lake nearby? Are they only around at night, or is it an all day thing?

I have tiki torches with citronella placed around my back patio, and that offers some help with the insects in the summer.

[Prichard]

Deep Woods Off. Or, Cutters with DEET.

I got attacked by noseeums on a golf-course; forgot my Cutters and had big throbbing welts all up and down my legs and arms for nearly two weeks. I had a real bad reaction to these guys, it was awful!

[macguy]

Originally Posted by kskutie76

After a little internet research, I'm convinced that's what is swarming around my front & back doors. I dread going outside because hundreds, if not thousands, of them are just waiting for me. I enter & exit through my garage door only.

I just moved here though & I had all of these lovely thoughts of enjoying the evenings on my back patio and grilling out with friends. What works to get rid of these things? I don't want to just slather myself in bug spray. I want to do something to kill down the population. Anyone have some tricks they'd be willing to share? By the way, these things don't bite, which is the only thing that makes me uncertain they're no-see-ums. I read those bite. But, then again, maybe they just haven't gotten me yet.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

They may be attracted by your lights. You may want to get the bug lights. White lights by the way also attract termites to your house. You want your house to be invisible to them. I got some termites in a window sill once and they were no where else around the house. It turned out it was probably the light that I always kept on by the window all night that brought them there. Just something to try, it can't hurt.

[kskutie76]

They are about the size of a small mosquito & yes, they're around all day & night. I don't turn my outside lights on at all because I quickly figured out that attracts ALL bugs. Yuck! Oh, and I do have a large man-made pond in my backyard. I know that's why they probably are around in such great numbers.

I definitely have not had an experience like Pritchard though. No bites at all, which is why I thought they might be some kind of large gnat.

[Florida Impressions]

It sounds like you have a large population of midges, which are similar to mosquitoes, yet do not bite. They are typically found around lakes and ponds that have a high algae content (often caused by pollution, runoff from fertilized lawns, golf courses, etc.) The midges lay their larvae in the pond, and the larvae feed on the abundance of algae.

If you are allowed, you may wish to investigate having some grass carp placed in the man-made pond. The grass carp will clean up the lake and control the algae, which will in turn get rid of the midges.

You can find information about stocking your pond with grass carp at the following link...

Use of Triploid Grass Carp in Florida

[Jammie]

If you have some clear baby oil, put it on a couple times a week. You can shower it off after only minutes because it is sort of sticky and yucky. The film will stay on your skin and keep a lot of bugs away, including mosquitoes.
I haven't been doing that this year and I need to start because we have a tremendous mosquito population up here this year and we are a high risk area for West Nile. (So. Dak)

Also, our older neighbors sit outside all the time. They both hang a vanilla air freshener around their necks and they never have bug bites. Vanilla is supposed to be wonderful for keeping bugs away.

[pianogal]

When we first moved into our home surrounded by woods, we had BUGS everywhere. I had to clean and repaint the pool door area because the dead bugs had collected so badly. Then we did some things that have completely solved the problem.

We replaced the light by the pool door with a yellow 'insect' light. It does not attract insects.

DH puts '7' - on the grass and plants - especially the plants around the pool area.

We got a Mosquito Sentinel 360. It attracts most of the bugs in addition to mosquitos. The Mosquito Sentinel 360 operates on low voltage power, freeing consumers from the time and expense of endlessly refilling cylinders. The trap silently attracts mosquitoes to infrared targets, various lights and contrasting color patterns. The mosquitoes are lured close to the trap, where they are quietly vacuumed into a capture net and exterminated.

We also do not burn lights outside at night, unless we are outside.

We do not have a pool screen and have no problem sitting out most of the time.

I did some touch up paint on the exterior of the house last weekend - and had NOTHING to do on the back. No bug stains at all. I was very pleased.

[pianogal]

Originally Posted by Jammie

If you have some clear baby oil, put it on a couple times a week. You can shower it off after only minutes because it is sort of sticky and yucky. The film will stay on your skin and keep a lot of bugs away, including mosquitoes.
I haven't been doing that this year and I need to start because we have a tremendous mosquito population up here this year and we are a high risk area for West Nile. (So. Dak)

Also, our older neighbors sit outside all the time. They both hang a vanilla air freshener around their necks and they never have bug bites. Vanilla is supposed to be wonderful for keeping bugs away.

Thank you, Jammie. What great ideas! I'll have to try them - especially the vanilla idea - wonderful scent as well.

[kskutie76]

Oh, these are all great tips. I will try anything. I don't know how likely it is that they'll agree to stock the pond though. It's rather large & I imagine would require quite a few carp.