What is the best way to get rid of no-see-ums? There are two effective solutions: repelling and trapping. Traps can be of two types based on how they attract no-see-ums. The most effective ones are those emitting carbon dioxide (CO2), a gas exhaled by humans and animals. By mimicking a mammal’s breathing, it draws no-see-ums in the trap, where they die from dehydration. Another type of trap utilizes UV light as a lure. While being less effective compared to CO2 traps, UV light traps are safer and can be used anywhere, including indoors. The captured insects are then electrocuted by an electric grid. As for repellents, they can be divided into two categories according to their application methods. Insecticides labeled for skin applications are generally based on DEET or Picaridin. The former is more powerful while the latter is considered to be less toxic. Sprays that are designed to be applied only to clothes contain Permethrin.
No-see-ums have plenty of names, such as biting midges or biting gnats, sand flies, punkies, pinyon gnats… All of them have different colloquialisms not only across the world but even across the U.S.A. These small biting midges don’t leave anyone alone simply because they can see and bite you painfully and you can’t even smash them because they are so tiny. What are they? How can you stop them? In this review, we’ll focus on the scientists’ opinions on how to get rid of no-see-ums, will determine the best repellent sprays, traps, zappers and protective clothing and will find out why the no-see-ums’ bites are so painful and dangerous.
No-see-ums are tiny ferocious midges belonging to Ceratopogonidae. Their size does not exceed 1/16 of an inch, but despite this, their miniscule jaws can cause severe pain when they bite. What is interesting is that both males and females feed on the flower nectar, but the females must drink the blood of warm-blooded animals to be able to lay eggs. The larvae can only develop in a moist environment: in any still water, on the banks of the rivers and bonds, in the marshes or mud, on the decaying organic matter, dirt, garbage, inside the wet tree hollows, and in tropical climates, even in plants that contain large percentage of water.
Should favorable conditions be created for larvae, the number of adult insects will hit a critical point by May (if it’s warm) and will last till the end of the summer. Although certain species are active during the day, most of these biting midges feast at dawn and dusk, just like other gnats.
How can you combat these invisible monsters? Previously, the specialists would ditch and drain wetlands to destroy the larvae of these insects; nowadays such a method is barely used because of the large-scale spread of no-see-ums. University of Missouri Extension experts don’t have good news either as they state that “effective control is difficult.” The North Carolina Extension IPM Program specialists say that “Spray programs similar to those for mosquitoes are largely ineffective as more adult midges will invade the area once the pesticides diminish. Personal protection using repellents is a better choice if you’re going to be outdoors in areas with high populations of biting midges.” That’s why this method is simply a waste of money.
It’s not that pessimistic though, as there are some effective methods for getting rid of no-see-ums, including CO2 & UV luring and consequent killing, repellent use, window screens and special clothes. We’ll describe each of them in detail.
CO2 luring is human respiration imitation. On a large scale, removal trapping is conducted using CO2 as an attractant to lure the biting midges to an insecticide-treated target where they are killed. Research from the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory has shown that biting midge populations were reduced in test areas of Vero Beach and Boynton Beach, FL, and Castaway Cay, Bahamas.
From these facts, we can conclude that CO2 insect traps are the most sensible option. They lure the insects with CO2 and UV light, and then suck them with a powerful fan into an internal compartment where the victims die of dehydration.
The scientists have found out that just like with mosquitoes, CO2 can be used to lure biting midges and kill them afterwards. Most of such units are quite pricey so we’ve found an affordable option covering up to 300 sq ft. You can also take it along when travelling if you know that these blood-suckers are a real threat at your destination.
What happens next? After being lured with the light and breath, an insect encounters a powerful but quiet fan which sucks it inside the grid like a vacuum cleaner: once and for all. Once inside a special compartment, all midges will die from dehydration. By the way, do not worry that the insects will get out: the said compartment is tightly closed, even when the trap is turned off. The Dynatrap Trap is not only convenient to install in the patio, pantry, garage or gazebo, but, because of its compact size, it also can be taken with you on trips as long as you have access to electric power!
By Infiltrade
Last update on 2023-12-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Dynatrap: Check the current price
There are lots of insect repellents available on the market today, but their effectiveness varies when it comes to dealing with the minuscule nasty no-see-ums. There are plenty of natural repellents among them. The scientists consider that they can provide certain protection, but is it really enough? Here are 4 repellents worthy of your attention.
You will have to treat your clothes with it (it can also be sprayed over your tent, bag, backpack, hammock, street furniture and mosquito nets) for about half a minute on each side. After that, you can go camping anywhere, to say nothing of the backyard parties and short walks. Permethrin has been protecting people for over 30 years as the U.S. and Canadian militaries use it to treat soldiers’ uniforms.
Regular users often combine Sawyer Clothing Repellent with a DEET-based repellent for skin. Such combination proves to be effective even in the jungle. However, users aren’t disappointed in using Sawyer Clothing Repellent on its own: “Trips to Central America, Africa, and the Middle East have made this product one of my favorite secrets. On my screens, sleeping bags, clothes, hat…everything! I watch others get eaten by chiggers, no-see-ums, mosquitos, and other nasty little creatures, but I have zero bites with no need for bug spray”.
By Amazon.com
Last update on 2023-12-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Sawyer Products: Check the current price
Many users’ experience has proven that this no-see-um spray can even outperform DEET-based ones and protect you from no-see-um bites even on the beach at night. The only inconvenience is the application process as some people have to spray it with one hand and rub it in with the other. This doesn’t affect the result, though.
Sawyer is safe for family use; it doesn’t damage clothes, bags, watches and synthetic fabrics. It can be applied not only on clothes and objects, but also on skin as it is completely safe and has a pleasant scent. If you need to combine it with a sunscreen, apply the sunscreen first and use the repellent 10 minutes later.
By Amazon.com
Last update on 2023-12-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Sawyer Products with 20% Picaridin: Check the current price
Repel 100 is EPA-registered personal insect repellent recommended for use by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which confirm its safety. It seems like this recommendation is not in vain. Judging by the reviews, the product is truly effective and users rate it highly: “Nothing bit me when I used this product. The mosquitoes and “no-see-ums” fly right on by”, “This is the only repellent I found to be useful against gnats and no-see-ums”.
Always keep in mind the safety rules of DEET-containing repellents use: never apply them on bruised skin, under clothes, keep it away from your eyes and rinse thoroughly after being outdoors and camping. The EPA does not recommend any additional precautions (as directed on the product label) for using registered repellents on children or on pregnant or lactating women.
Last update on 2023-12-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Repel 100: Check the current price
Many people are afraid of very powerful DEET (98%) repellents, but they are irreplaceable if your destination is a place swarming with flying blood-suckers (marshes and woods), or if you are going hunting or fishing.
On the other hand, there are gentler products, such as IR3535 which are also used for repelling mosquitoes, ticks, and biting flies. However, USDA laboratories found this repellent to be less effective than DEET. So, you’ll have to choose between an effective repellent and a gentle one that has a less-lasting effect.
If your skin is sensitive, pay attention to the following products:
The convenient format of this repellent allows for taking it on the go: just put it in the pocket of your jacket or pants and you won’t worry that it takes too much space. It is designed for use on the go, on the road or even in those extreme circumstances when your time is limited but the midges bother you too much. Even those who have had a chance of testing this product in severe conditions rate it highly: “I bought these for a trip to Roatan, Honduras because the no see-ums are bad there. They worked great all week and kept the bugs away pretty well! We also bought the spray to keep in our room and just used these out and about when we felt the need to reapply.”
If you are a tourist, hunter, and fisherman, or if you simply spend much time outdoors, put such a pack in your road bag as 15 wipes will serve you for a long time.
By Amazon.com
Last update on 2023-12-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Repel 94100: Check the current price
Here is another type of a no-see-ums killer – indoor bug zapper bulb, attracting no-see-ums and other insects by UV light and killing them by electric current.
You may use it 24/7 in the rooms, offices, shops, garages, patios, on a porch and even on a trip. It can be screwed into a lampshade as a conventional bulb while when used with the adapter it can be plugged into a socket.
Bug zapper light bulb has three modes of operation: bug zapper, light only, bug zapper & light which can be interchangeably switched to each other very easily. The bulb covers up to 540 sq ft but in order to obtain the better effect, place one device per room.
This bulb doesn’t use chemical baits, nor does it release toxins over the course of its operation. It is safe for children and pets, therefore, you can safely place it in the children’s room. But the first thing you should remember is that it is an electric appliance, so don’t allow your children play with it. It zaps silently and not only no-see-ums but other insects as well.
GLOUE: Check the current price
Installing mosquito nets and wearing regular long-sleeved shirts and pants will be insufficient for preventing bites. Check out the clothes we’ve found for protecting, especially against no-see-ums.
It is not in vain that this Bug Jacket has a high rating and this is not even because of its affordable price. It has simply helped lots of people to have a great time without being bitten. Happy users, for instance, comment that “This jacket kept the no-see-ums off me and I could not have made it without it. Lightweight and effective”. Nevertheless, they also note some disadvantages of this jacket. Long story short, they recommend others to:
Last update on 2023-12-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Coghlan’s Bug Jacket: Check the current price
No-See-Um Headnet: Check the current price
Last update on 2023-12-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Coghlan’s Bug Pants: Check the current price
Caroline Semerjian, Inventor of No No-See-Um Repellent
Caroline Semerjian is an owner and developer of a product called “No No-See-Um.” It is a natural insect repellent formulated to control this specific insect species.
The concept was developed out of dive on Sanibel Island where no-see-ums are so bad and nothing seemed to work. And also I am very self-conscious. so I wanted to come up with something that was not only going to work but was also safe to put on our skin. I came up with a formula that was going to be EPA except because registering with the EPA is very difficult. So we had to use only ingredients from their approved list.
No-see-ums’ bites are distinctive and the bites look like 1-2 inch spots with an itchy red dot in the middle. An itching blister filled with liquid can form on the bite spot. Such bites are much more painful that mosquito bites and take up to 2 weeks to heal because no-see-ums not only suck your blood, but also rip your skin with their small sharp jaws. Are these bites truly dangerous?
Wild animals and livestock are the most frequent victims of no-see-ums. Infected insects’ bites can cause horses to suffer from allergic dermatitis; they can transmit the lethal Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease virus to deer and contaminate sheep with bluetongue disease which is also known for its high death toll.
Let us be calm though, the biggest threat of no-see-ums’ bites for humans (and not animals) is individual allergy. Purdue University experts confirm this by saying that “biting midges are extremely annoying, but none are known to transmit disease agents to humans in the U.S”. In some countries, though, including the countries of South American, in the Caribbean, West and Central Africa, some species may be carriers of pathogens causing not only animal but also human diseases, such as Mansonella worms. These parasites cause infections, thereby developing dermatitis and skin lesions, as adult worms live under their victim’s skin.
What should you do if you weren’t able to avoid a bite?
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