Pesky SC no-see-ums bothering you? Here are 6 ways to avoid becoming their next meal
The Lowcountry seems to have no shortage of critters and crawling things. Lately it seems, there are manatees being spotted in local marinas, alligators seen sunbathing on land and in lagoons and in the air, are an abundance of no-see-ums and mosquitoes.
What are no-see-ums?
As you might have guessed by their nickname, no-see-ums are small gnats hardly visible to the human eye.
These pesky bugs have a powerful bite that only the females can inflict.
No-see-ums prefer humid, warm, wet, coastal environments and tend to congregate along the marshes and other areas with lots of water such as lagoons. Known as biting gnats, biting midges, punkies or sand flies, you’ll feel them before you see them.
In fact, they are so small, they can pass through almost any screened-in porch or door.
Generally, they tend to show up in the morning hours, early evening and on cloudy days.
The adults are grayish in color and are so tiny they could fit on the tip of a very sharp pencil. Female no-see-ums are capable of laying up to 400 eggs in just one batch. This singular batch, with eggs well into the hundreds, hatches in just 10 days, according to Gardening Know How.
Both male and female no-see-ums consume nectar and pollen as their primary food source; however, it is solely the females who bite to take in blood. This is necessary for her eggs to fully develop. Her eggs are a whitish color at first, but they will gradually darken over their 10-day development period. After taking in a certain amount of blood for her eggs, the female will lay them on water, mud or any wet, sandy area. Marshes, full of wet, sandy sediment, decaying matter and pluff mud, are a prime location.
How to best avoid being bitten
Chances are, if you live or have vacationed in the South Carolina Lowcountry, you’ve been bitten by no-see-ums before.
The bites hurt and can last for up to two weeks.
Bites appear as small, raised, red welts which are painful and itchy.
Use repellent. No Natz is a popular option here in the Lowcountry. The bottle may appear small, but this is big relief in a little bottle. Compared to standard insect repellents that are made with DEET and generally used to fight off mosquitoes, No Natz gets rid of them all. This repellent is DEET-free, hypoallergenic and packed with essential oils. It’s also pet friendly.
Unlike chemical repellents, this spritz has a pleasant smell, conditions the skin and is proven to be effective at repelling no-see-ums, mosquitoes, gnats, yellow flies, chiggers and other nearby biting insects. You will need to reapply more frequently than that of a DEET-based product, however, as essential oil-based products don’t last quite as long as their traditional bug spray counterpart. Every 2 hours or so should be enough. No Natz can be purchased online or on the island at Grayco, ACE Hardware, West Marine, Walmart and other locations. Contact your nearby business to inquire.
Prefer DEET? OFF Deep Woods Insect Repellent is another option. For those who might not be a fan of essential oils or just prefer DEET, formulated with 25% DEET, this is available in a variety of options such as disposable towelettes and sprays. It can provide up to 8 hours of protection against mosquitoes and other biting insects. This spray can be purchased online, at a nearby Target, Walmart, or a variety of other stores.
Wear loose-fitting, long sleeves and pants. This won’t be 100% effective, but it certainly can help. Ankles and wrists may still be a target with this hack, but having a centralized location may be better than all over. Long socks can be worn to avoid ankles becoming a female no-see-ums’ next meal.
Avoid having standing water near your place of residence. No-see-ums have the same life cycle as mosquitoes. Meaning, they reproduce and congregate near standing bodies of water. This includes emptying birdbaths, draining flower pots and overturning outdoor furniture after it rains.
For locals, upgrade your screening. These pesky insects are so small, they can get through 16 mesh. For any screened in area, use a smaller grade mesh to prevent pest entry.
Consider the time. Limiting time spent outdoors during rain showers, dawn or dusk hours may help prevent further or future bites. Especially when near a body of water, these are prime times for no-see-um bites to occur.
This story was originally published May 5, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Pesky SC no-see-ums bothering you? Here are 6 ways to avoid becoming their next meal."
