Insects

[Simpsons_fan]

Thanks for the info guys. [msnsmile2]

[Newhomebuyer]

Hi Adam,
I have just come back from a pleasant stroll along the banks of the River Ribble here in the NW of England. I have seen more little biting midges than I do in Florida and I have been there in July many times.
The only exception to this is the little fire ants on the lawns but all you have to do is stay off the grass and keep the pool deck clean as people have already stated.
The wildlife in Florida is fascinating, its one of the reasons I enjoy going. All you have to do is remember it is the tropics and exercise common sense.
The sounds of the insects in the evening are part of the ambience.
Angela

[Lyn]

Sorry but what is a Chigger[msnscared]

[sharondl]

just come back went to walgreens and told and i am the equiviant to all you can eat buffet to the insect world have bites from mosquitoes, ants, chiggers,ticks and some they could not explain possibly spider? and it could be because of my blood group??????? why he couldn't expalin????
tried various repelants tried new one coppertone bug and sun got only 31 bites this times last time 59 so is improvement but must be something better out there. please help someone must know what to use

[flyrr100]

Chiggers are small bugs that live in grassy and swampy areas. Kinda like a tick but much smaller. You need a magnifying glass to see them. They are reddish in color. They attach themselves to your legs and feed! Nasty critters!
I'm sure they exsist in some form in the UK.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Newhomebuyer

The sounds of the insects in the evening are part of the ambience.
[/quote]

And don't forget the frogs!

[chrizzy100]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Lyn
Sorry but what is a Chigger[msnscared]
[/quote]

http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/...hopo/chiggers/

[ellie]

Goodness me! We must have missed something on our trips to Florida. Apart from the odd mozzie bite - certainly use insect repellant at the Epcot firworks - we have never seen anything but the odd ant.

As everyone has said, our house, too, has regular pest control measures and as long as you don't leave food on the pool deck you really don't need to worry. It appears to be very effective.

We have a sweet little gekko which appears now and again in our house - good insect catchers, and on the pool deck we often see huge and very beautiful dragonflies hovering over our heads. But never seen a snake.

As far as mozzies go they will always be found near water, so best to be prepared, whether you are in Florida or the UK.

But for the best mozzie bites I can thoroughly recommend Cozumel - visiting the Mayan ruins a couple of years ago we stood with a party of Brits listening intently to the Mexican guide. Then we noticed people leaving rapidly and the group getting smaller - on looking down we noticed huge bites on our legs and elsewhere - and it didn't take long for us to join the exodus. The poor man was left talking to himself!

Seriously, though, do not worry about being eaten alive by insects. Use a deet product and Boots also do a little gadget to 'zap' bites should you get bitten - can't remember its name but its pretty clever - you put it on the bite and click and it gives you a sort of pin-prick shock which if you repeat it takes away the irritation. Am sure someone will know what its called! If you do happen to get bitten then get some anti-histamine pills from the Walmart pharmacy or such like.

Have a great trip!

[orlandobabe]

I normally get very badly bitten by mozzies-but I have just come back after just over a month there with only 1 bite on my hand!

A recored that.

I used something that is aromatherapy based-with citronella and other goodies in it.

It was only a £1 in one of these cheapie shops-and it seems like it's been the best thing I've had.

Can't remember the name of it-as I left it over there-but felt a lot better for it being 'natural oil based'.

The doctor's receptionist I saw when a bite went bad last May says she gets a product with DEET in it (repel is one that comes to mind) and sprays it on her hat, boots and T shirt-she likes to go walking. After her face swelled up on one occasion-she now folloows this routine and has been fine.

[ctgirlscout]

We haven't seen any insects in our villa, apart from one small spider. But has anyone else noticed the strange absence of insects in the Disney parks?

[Newhomebuyer]

Disney spray vast areas in order to keep them down.