Midges, tiny biting flies, are a common source of outdoor discomfort. Though small, they inflict itchy and irritating bites. This guide provides practical strategies to prevent midge bites and alleviate symptoms.
Preventing Midge Bites
Preventing midge bites involves physical barriers, personal repellents, and strategic timing of outdoor activities.
Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks reduces exposed skin, preventing midges from landing and biting. Opting for light-colored clothing is also beneficial, as midges are often attracted to darker hues. Specialized insect-repellent clothing, often treated with permethrin, offers an additional layer of protection by repelling midges on contact.
Ensure homes and shelters have fine mesh screens on windows and doors to block midge entry. For outdoor areas like patios or tents, fine-mesh nets can create enclosed, midge-free zones. Utilizing fans, both indoors and outdoors, can also deter midges, as their weak flight makes them unable to navigate strong air currents.
Personal repellents applied to exposed skin and clothing are crucial for deterring midges. Products containing active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus are recognized for their effectiveness. Always apply these repellents according to product label instructions to ensure maximum protection. Avoiding heavily scented lotions, perfumes, or hair products is also advisable, as these can attract midges.
Adjusting outdoor habits can greatly reduce exposure. Midges are most active during specific times, around dawn and dusk, and often on still, humid, or cloudy days. Planning outdoor activities to avoid these peak biting hours, such as enjoying the outdoors during midday when midges are less active, can be highly effective. Midges also struggle in direct sunlight and windy conditions, so seeking out open, breezy, or sunny locations can provide natural relief from swarms. Reducing outdoor lighting, especially bright lights near entryways, can help prevent attracting midges at night.
Treating Midge Bites
Even with preventative measures, midge bites can sometimes occur, leading to irritating symptoms such as itching, swelling, and redness. Prompt treatment can help alleviate discomfort and prevent complications. The first step after a bite is to gently wash the affected area with soap and water to clean the skin and reduce the risk of infection.
Applying a cold compress or an ice pack wrapped in a cloth to the bite area for 10 to 15 minutes can effectively reduce swelling, inflammation, and itching by numbing the skin. Over-the-counter topical treatments are available to provide further relief. Creams containing 1% hydrocortisone can reduce inflammation and curb itching. Calamine lotion is another option that helps soothe skin irritation and dry up any oozing from the bite.
Oral antihistamines, available without a prescription, can be taken to help reduce itching and manage any mild allergic reactions. Aloe vera gel, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, can be applied directly to the bite to reduce burning sensations and inflammation. A paste made from baking soda and water can also be applied to help alleviate itching.
While most midge bites are not dangerous and resolve on their own, certain symptoms warrant medical attention. Seek professional medical help if you experience severe swelling that spreads beyond the bite area, increasing redness, pus, or worsening pain, as these could be signs of an infection. Immediate medical attention is also necessary for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, hives, swelling of the face, mouth, or throat, or generalized symptoms like dizziness or nausea.
Understanding Midge Behavior
Midges are a diverse group of tiny flying insects, often known as “no-see-ums” due to their minute size, typically 1 to 3 millimeters. Not all midge species bite, but females of biting species require a blood meal to produce eggs, similar to mosquitoes. When a female midge bites, she injects saliva that can cause an itchy, red welt, an allergic reaction to the compounds in her saliva.
Midges thrive in specific environmental conditions. Their larvae develop in aquatic habitats, making them commonly found near bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, and other damp, boggy areas. Areas with abundant organic debris also provide suitable breeding grounds. Adult midges usually stay close to their larval habitats.
Midges are generally most active during periods of low light, specifically around dawn and dusk. They are particularly bothersome on still, humid, and overcast days, as strong winds and direct sunlight can hinder their flight and activity. Midges are attracted to carbon dioxide exhaled by humans and animals, as well as body heat and certain scents, which helps them locate a blood meal. They may also be drawn to bright artificial lights at night.