Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Tiny biting white flying insects
Each time I do work on our non-privet hedges and bushes in the back garden I seem to disturb a small could of white flying insects, each no bigger than a sesame seed. They almost look cute, but they pack a bite several times worse than that of a mosquito. On occasions a bite has resulted in a swelling several inches across. More normally it's just a matter of persistent itching and much more localised swelling.
I've Googled around the net but can no mention of anything resembling them. Does anyone have any idea what these ferocious little critters are?
Tags for Forum Posts: insect bites
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by gilly on
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I have never know whiteflies to bite either, very perplexing and concerning as I seem to be a good dinner for these creatures to! Unless another flying creature lives close to them and is the real culprit that goes unseen?
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Permalink Reply by Christine Heath on
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I was first bitten by these creatures in the 1980s and ended up in hospital on a drip and almost had septicaemia! I am sure they are not white fly, as from my experience they appear where there is dry undergrowth rather than on plants. Do take precautions. I use Alfresco anti Bug Moisturiser, available via the internet, and anti histamine at the first sign of a bite.
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@ jeanette ..And also the hand held hoover, this has worked miracles for me. One hoovered up then spraying the leaves to leave a slimy film of liquid so they cannot get a grip!
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I've been in the garden again tonight (I'm a sucker, I know) and fortunately was left unscathed, perhaps because I didn't disturb any vegetation. The first attack occurred whilst weeding violet from the pavement in my garden which happened to be next to a honeysuckle growing on my fence. Any connection? I gave the honeysuckle a shake this evening and a couple of what might be whitefly flew away from it. I did catch one and my initial impressions are that these are not the culprits. I think the perpetrators were more translucent, grey in colour and might even be bloodsucking as I could see a small dark spot in their belly as they were biting me and a spot of blood was left behind after seeing some of them in action. Not pleasant I know. I did think midges but they weren't mosquito-esque in appearance. I'll try and catch one of them over the weekend.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Did you manage to catch a couple of the translucent/grey insects, Nicholas? If not, please let me know and I'll email Haringey's Pest Control team for advice about possible ways to trap them - without offering a blood meal as bait!
(Tottenham Hale ward councillor)
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Last Saturday I spent an evening entertaining in the garden without incident, probably because I wasn't hacking away at anything. This morning I did a spot of gardening and I wasn't so lucky, one bit my arm, and the same swelling and itch returned with a vengeance. The previous bites are still itching and I try my best to leave them alone, but they are slowly healing. I would love to hear how I can trap these things and find out just what they are (perhaps a sheet with sticky adhesive?).
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Thanks again, Nicholas.
I have drafted a "Member Enquiry" (i.e. a formal councillor's request for information) for Haringey's Pest Control team. I'd like comments from you and Hugh - as "bitees" - before I email it. So I've sent you a connection request.
I did try to get through to them by telephone, but as you may appreciate, the Call Centre often works as a barrier and rationing mechanism.
Alan
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In case you didn't spot my post above, Nicholas, you can send a sample of the insects:
In a Sealed Container and post it to: Pest Control Team, Enforcement Response, Regulatory Services, Units 271-272 Lee Valley Technopark, Ashley Road, Tottenham N17 9LN.
The Council's website adds "No Personal Callers to the address please.
If these are a midge species, the bites don't seem to spread disease among humans. But that's liitle consolation when you can't sleep for itching.
From a brief chat with Jeanette Sitton and my own web search, it's just possible these may be a foreign import and a bit nastier than the usual midges - even Scottish varieties. So swift identification is a good idea.
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Permalink Reply by Alix on
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And if they are midgies, then, as any visitor to the Scottish highlands will know, midgies are impervious to most insect repellants, and the only protection is Avon's Skin So Soft.
I have a bottle if anyone wants to test it out?
But there are definitely lots of (pretty big) mozzies around at the mo, too.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm still convinced that it's these little white things that are doing the biting. I don't think it's a coincidence that a few of us put the bites down to what seems to be the same little critters.
If it is them, they're definitely not any species of midge for which I can find a picture on the web. And if white flies don't bite humans, then it's something else.
Hmmm.........
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Permalink Reply by GillianM on
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Nasty. Doesn't sound like a midge though, they are much smaller and dark. Be interested to find out what they are though...
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Permalink Reply by Alison P on
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Agree, these don't sound at all like midges (having just spent a few happy weeks renewing my acquaintance with them...).
Unless there is a new Harringay mutant, a la the unholy combination of Russian Vine and Japanese Knotweed that has sprung up in Railway Fields . The Harringay white-midge?
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