Insect bites- identification required

[potatolord]

Every year, between late July and mid September, I get bitten by some vicious insect. I only get them on days I have been in the garden.

Almost all the bites are between knee and belt line, so under my clothes. I rarely get them on areas of exposed skin. The bites seem to be delayed response- they flare up several hours after I have been outside. I don't seem to notice them at the time, and haven't seen any bugs on me.

They are large and risen, and take 2-3 days to go down. They often flare up again a few days later.

They don't bite my wife or daughters, which is rather sexist. My neighbour said he gets them too, but his wife doesn't.

I have a cat, but they don't feel like cat flea bites I have had in the past- and don't bite on ankles or lower shin.

Insect repellant spray mostly stops the bites, so I'm ruling out an allergic reaction to a plant.

Anyone have any idea what could be biting me?

 

[potatolord]

sounds like midges

They're not biting exposed skin- nearly always under clothes.

Is that usual?

 

[potatolord]

Under the clothes? Have you checked for bedbugs? When I get bites its always on exposed skin and almost always when I've been outdoors

It's not bedbugs. I'm getting bitten during the day.

Ugh, bedbugs are repulsive. I'd burn the carpets and furniture if we had those!

 

[potatolord]

Where do you live? Does your garden back onto woods or a grassy area?

That's not midgies. My guess, from what you have said so far, would be tick nymphs.

I say nymphs because you're looking for something on you and can't see anything, but yet you're still getting bit. Tick nymphs can be too small to see with the naked eye and can also cause the reaction you describe.

But then, I am paranoid as hell when it comes to ticks so...

Backs onto fields, but I have a really heavily overgrown area with mature trees.

Jesus, first bedbugs, now ticks suggested.

Anyone want to go for assassin bugs?

 

[potatolord]

Got any ferns in your garden that you come into contact with?

Yep, a few ferns about.

 

[potatolord]

Open fields? Do you ever see deer in them there fields?

You didn't say where abouts you lived, but you may be living in an area with a heavy tick population.

It'll be ticks and there's no need for assassin bugs as tick-borne diseases are quite capable of killing you!

Get yourself a white pillow case (good tip @Rannoch) and go out and run it over the vegetation in your garden and see if anything clings to it.

You may need to get a magnifying glass to take a really close look as, like I say, ticks can be tiny.

No deer, just horses and the occasional sheep.

 

[potatolord]

Horse fly

It's not a horse fly. I've been bitten by them and you notice that straight away, believe me.

I am also ruling out weever fish stings, before anyone suggests that. They HURT.

 

[potatolord]

Bumping as I have identified the culprit, and this might help someone else.

They are chiggers, a type of mite that lives in grass.

They bite me mostly around my waist, in the belt line, and in my groin. The bites come on an hour or two after I have been out in my garden.

The bites itch for several days and become very inflamed.

Various ways to minimise/ treat this can be found on the intr0w3b.

 

[potatolord]

I've got about 15 horse-fly bits on my legs at the moment from walking the dog on meadows where cattle graze. They hurt like a son-of-a-bitch and you REALLY know when you've been bitten.
Interestingly, it's only the females that bite as they need the protean to create eggs.

No help for you identifying your bites though.

I did identify them in the end.

I am being bitten by chiggers, which are little mites.

My sympathy on the horse fly bites. They hurt.