Ticks, midges, horseflies etc.

It may not work as contactless now as the aerial circles the edge of the card...

Shit.

Ah well, it’s all peeling and faded so I’ve been thinking I should order a new card anyway.

First bite of the year, through sock onto ankle bone. Soooo much itch. Must not scratch.

I got lightly midged in Glen Nevis last week - I sat outside after having a shower for about 5 minutes before I remembered to reapply Smidge. Still a bit itchy. But I got back and heard that one of my mates (in Glasgow) had sat in the grass and found more than 30 ticks on her afterwards, so it puts it all into perspective...

I got Lyme disease after doing the North 500... Four years on and still not 100% and ticks terrify me now , if I had 30 on me I'd probably jump in a bonfire :(

I never saw a tick but I was walking through fields yesterday and today I have this. Am I doing to die? 😂

(GP has been contacted too but what's your thoughts internet doctors?! 😂)

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Looks like a clegg/ horse fly bite?

Looks like one of the many horsefly bites I got camping in Wales recently

Thanks both. Hopefully this is the case as I never saw a tick. Had to remove them before.

Bullseye bite mark. Partner annoyingly freaking out. Will I die? I was in Richmond Park a few days ago... not close to the deer or grass though, with long sleeves.

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Looks more like a fly bite to me? Bullseye much more distinctive, no?

Hey all - was up on Dartmoor over the weekend and found a tick - fun as always! so decided to look into how to keep them away

FWIW - I've found these tweezers very effective and easy to sterilise etc

As far as repellent goes, I've never tried much. I might give the premetherin a shot - thanks @user69121. Also going to look into some of the other non-DEET products and the tea sounds fun.

For midges, I've heard this stuff is amazing (and isn't actually midge repellent)

@Spxtz is the smidge stuff decent as well? might give that a punt as I've got a couple of trips to scotland planned

[This](https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/prev/on_people.html#:~:text=Use%20Environmental%20Protection%20Agency%20(EPA,that%20best%20suits%20your%20needs.) is also kind of nuts. The US CDC has a full on bible of different products

I prefer Smidge to Avon because it's less greasy and you don't need to re-apply it as often, but when I used Avon the only one available was the moisturiser and not the spray. Smidge is good, I've not had much midge trouble when I've used it and I've worn it in some extremely midgy places (though you need to make sure you cover all your exposed skin - once they get close to you they won't land where there's Smidge but they'll hang around until they find the bit where you forgot to apply it).

We have a set of these type of tick removers for our dogs (work well on humans too) - really easy to use:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HouChanges-Remover-Painlessly-Humans-Green/dp/B08DXLR7RR/ref=bmx_5/260-5285279-4614309?pd_rd_w=q6UVG&pf_rd_p=21458252-274b-4574-abb7-e16ed8f7bdfc&pf_rd_r=DWXTD99E2XR0ATKXVV4X&pd_rd_r=60493747-3e9b-4324-ba07-d11448555619&pd_rd_wg=y2mAG&pd_rd_i=B08DXLR7RR&psc=1

Funny I got eaten in the woods a couple of weeks ago and just ordered some Avon skin so soft this morning, also in an attempt to avoid DEET I got this:
https://www.boots.com/health-pharmacy/travel-health/insect-repellents/incognito-insect-repellent-pump-spray-100ml-10262315
Used yesterday in the same woods and no bites but might be a coincidence, will go DEET if this doesn't work. I swell up badly to bites and then get bruising, it is mainly a mild annoyance.

I grew up between Dartmoor and Exmoor and basically had it bashed in me not to wear shorts in the braken due to ticks but have become lazy living in the midlands and now wear shorts in long grass at the expense of getting bitten, if I thought there was a high chance of ticks I would wear trousers as Lyme's is horrible

Came across this a few days ago which might be relevent for ticks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2laCHDnSNqQ

From this site: https://www.alwaysanotheradventure.com/

Someone on singletrack just recommended this as a more cost effective solution to smidge with the same active ingredient
https://www.bitebackproducts.co.uk/horse-and-rider/biteback-neem-supreme-fly-spray

For midges, I've heard this stuff is amazing (and isn't actually midge repellent)

It is very good - I used it in Torridon a few years back when the midges were a real problem. It doesn't repel them, as you say. In me experience you have to splash it on nice and thick and then it seems to just stick the midges in place and partially dissolve them, so the downside is you end up covered in a slurry of Avon Skin So Soft and partially dissolved midges. Stops them bitting though.

First two decent leg eggs acquired last night. Like heatpads, much warm.

That time again, 2 on Weds night when wearing shorts, one bit through my sock yesterday. Latter has swollen this eve so I could be the owner of an elephant ankle in the morning if unlucky.

5 bites on Sunday night when by the river. Worst of itchiness last night. Horrible fuckers.

Dabbing it with tea-tree oil has been effective for itchy bites for me.

Have taken 5 good sized ticks off my wife in the past month. None on me. Going to the same places. Similar clothing. I even roll around on the floor (filming) and they're just never on me. Took two (mm size ones) off my son this morning as well after we somehow missed them on the check and shower yesterday. One hadn't bitten so just crawled onto the tweezers. They're such resilient little shits.

Anyone tried Picaridin? Growing up it was always deet/ permethrin but always hated applying it.

We also walked timed yesterday with a horsefly hatching or something as there were more buzzing us than I've ever experienced.

Have taken 5 good sized ticks off my wife in the past month. None on me.

Yeah, I don't get this. I went a ride with a mate recently, we were both in shorts, neither of us had any repellant on, he said he found 3, me none.

I've read that in some insects (fleas/mosquitos for example) blood type, lactic acid amounts and other genetic stuff plays a big part (I get shredded by fleas/midges etc - my wife is always unscathed). But in something less mobile that's just sitting on a blade of grass waiting to hook onto whatever walks past I can't see that'd be a factor.