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Mosquito Magnetism

queenofhearts

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queenofhearts Explorer
queenofhearts
Posted

I'm wondering if there is a connection here, or if I'm dreaming...

All my life I've been a mosquito magnet, always more bites than anyone else in a group, piling on the repellent & still getting bitten.

I was noticing the other evening in the garden, I had not applied repellent, but the skeeters were flying around me but NOT BITING!!! I can NEVER remember seeing this happen before. I did get a couple of bites, but normally I'd have been covered with them.

Could it be that something in my metabolism has changed since going gluten free that no longer attracts the little devils? Has anyone else had this experience?

Will wonders never cease?!!?

Leah

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BRUMI1968 Collaborator
BRUMI1968
Posted

I have had the same experience, though from quitting wheat two years ago. I still get bit now and again, but for the most part, no. It used to be I got bit ALL THE TIME, and my husband never did. It's tough to get him t shut screen doors.

but anyway, if you're dreaming, I'm having the same dream.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

I'm still a bug magnet. I've got six bites on me from the 21 miles of hiking I've done the past four days. :-) (Which is incredibly low for me - I used bug stuff (oil of lemon eucalyptus) the first two days, but mostly I think the bugs in my new state don't know me yet.)

Matilda Enthusiast
Matilda
Posted

..

ArtGirl Enthusiast
ArtGirl
Posted

Ohhh... I sure hope I follow this pattern. I've always wondered why I get bit all over when others hardly at all. I've even considered moving to a condo so as not to have to work in the yard I get so tired of having bites all over me all summer long. :angry:

As I type this message I have 11 bug bites, a couple of them are doozies. This is from a couple days working in the yard - with repellant and having first sprayed the area with bug spray. I can't step outside for even a minute without at least one misquito bite. And every year I get at least two bites from some bug I've never been able to identify that raises a good sized blister that lasts for a couple weeks and then takes a couple more weeks to heal up, leaving a red patch on my skin for the rest of the season.

Looking forward to next year to see if the bugs leave me alone!

TCA Contributor
TCA
Posted

I haven't thought about it, but I"m the same way too. Never thought about it. I'm O+.

ArtGirl - could those bites be fire ants? That's the way they do me.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

I'm O+ too, but so's my husband, who doesn't get bitten much at all.

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ArtGirl Enthusiast
ArtGirl
Posted
IArtGirl - could those bites be fire ants? That's the way they do me.

Do fire ants live in the midwest? We have a lot of ants - several sizes and colors.

I never know when I've been bit by this bug. It's usually the next day that an area the size of a quarter becomes hot and begins to swell. Then, the next day the area is red and the blister begins to form, swelling to about the size of a very large pea over several hours. So, you see, since the reaction is delayed it's very hard to tell what bit me. I've never seen an insect crawling on me. Usually the bite is on my legs and the back of my knees.

BRUMI1968 Collaborator
BRUMI1968
Posted
I'm O+ too, but so's my husband, who doesn't get bitten much at all.

My hubby is O and he NEVER gets bit. I'm A+ and I would always get bit (until last year!)

Green12 Enthusiast
Green12
Posted
My hubby is O and he NEVER gets bit. I'm A+ and I would always get bit (until last year!)

I'm also an A+ and I would always attract the bugs and get bitten. I just realized reading this post that this doesn't seem to be the case anymore, I haven't gotten bitten once this summer and I don't think I did last summer either. Hmmm, mystery?

I had read about this somewhere some time ago, the reason why some people attract the mosquitos while others don't and I can't remember what it was. I think it had to do with something in the blood, but not necessarily blood type...

BRUMI1968 Collaborator
BRUMI1968
Posted

I recall that sugar-eaters had more bites...but there was something else too......

corinne Apprentice
corinne
Posted

I'm A-. I'm really lucky and never get bitten by mosquitoes, but black flies (horrible nasty evil insects) love me. I got about 200 bites on my feet once when I was hiking in BC in Tevas. and had to call in sick the next day for work because my feet swelled so much I couldn't get my shoes on.

queenofhearts Explorer
queenofhearts
Posted
  • Author
Ohhh... I sure hope I follow this pattern. I've always wondered why I get bit all over when others hardly at all. I've even considered moving to a condo so as not to have to work in the yard I get so tired of having bites all over me all summer long. :angry:

As I type this message I have 11 bug bites, a couple of them are doozies. This is from a couple days working in the yard - with repellant and having first sprayed the area with bug spray. I can't step outside for even a minute without at least one misquito bite. And every year I get at least two bites from some bug I've never been able to identify that raises a good sized blister that lasts for a couple weeks and then takes a couple more weeks to heal up, leaving a red patch on my skin for the rest of the season.

Looking forward to next year to see if the bugs leave me alone!

My father in law talks of being bitten (or stung, actually) by blister beetles. Sounds similar to your reaction. Did they hurt? (His did.)

I'll be overjoyed if my mosquito luck holds out. I love gardening, & end up doing it in the hottest part of the day to avoid being devoured. (I'd rather be drenched in sweat than covered with bites.) It would be so wonderful if I can really enjoy outdoor evenings!

Leah

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