I'm being eaten alive!!! (Austin, Cove: movers, how much, house)

[readymade]

We moved here a little over a week ago and my husband already has silver dollar-sized itchy welts over 50% of his body. I have smaller bites over about 30%. We're both freaking out.

The mosquitos are in our house! We wake up every morning with new bites. And end each day with still more.

Does anyone have any suggestions? We put in "bug repelling" lights on our front porch & back yard. Not sure that's working. There's no standing water around our house.

What do you all do? Any suggestions? Should I get a bug zapper? Fly paper? Cover myself in DEET every day for the rest of my life?

Help!

[PeacePlease]

For inside you may want to get the Flowtron. When we lived in Austin that is what we used sometimes. Make sure the screens on the windows work so they don't make it inside. When I lived in Austin, dryer sheets helped... keep one in your pocket. Oh, and Benadryl gel works great on bites.

[readymade]

Originally Posted by PeacePlease

For inside you may want to get the Flowtron. When we lived in Austin that is what we used sometimes. Make sure the screens on the windows work so they don't make it inside. When I lived in Austin, dryer sheets helped... keep one in your pocket. Oh, and Benadryl gel works great on bites.

Thanks. Do you have anywhere I can go TODAY to buy a Flowtron in Austin?

[mandib]

I bought some sticks and natural oil in a package at Whole Foods. I put it out on my porch and it really works. No mosquitos. And I always get bit when I'm out there, no matter how much OFF I put on.

I found the package (about $13) at one of the registers. They had a lot of them. It's a bit strong smelling, but not horrible like a chemical smell.

[TexasHorseLady]

You're also going to want to check around your place for any standing water and get rid of it so get rid of the problem at the source. If you have a garden pond, you'll want to have fish in it. (They help keep it clean, too.)

[neddy]

You know what you describe sound more like chiggers to me than other bugs unless thats your normal reaction to those bugs. Chiggers sort of seem to increase over a couple of days. HEB RX has some chigger stuff behind the counter. Clear nail polish painted over the spots kills the buggers also but the stuff HEB has helps with the itch also. IF it is chiggers wash the bedding in hot water and you should be good to go. Good luck welcome to Texas!

[TexasHorseLady]

Chiggers in the bedding? Never heard of that! Now, lying down in the grass, sure, but I've never had a problem with them in the house.

If it is chiggers, you'll note that the bites congregate around your midsection, your ankles, places where the edges of your clothing are.

[readymade]

Thanks for the advice. Although MY bites are mostly around my ankles and feet, my husband's are all over his body. Plus, we've only been sleeping in our bed for 2 nights. Before that, we were sleeping on an inflatable mattress. Also, don't you see chiggers? My bites look like regular mosquito bites. My husband might be allergic or something because his welts are HUGE! And all over. I feel so bad for him.

He's had bites since day one. Mine started after the movers brought our stuff, and I think it's because we had the whole house open all day. TONS of bugs came in. We can see them flying around. I'm just not sure how to eliminate them all. I'm going to buy a Flowtron online, I think.

I expect to be bitten SOMEwhat when I'm outside. But, I'd like to feel safe within my own house!

[centralaustinite]

Could it be fleas?

Take Bendryl for the welts. I guess you must be far from downtown. The bats take care of lots of the flying bugs when you live central.

We do get a few mosquito that breed in the saucers under the container plants, any standing water no matter how small can breed them. Try mosquito dunks for any water. Does your house have a sprinkler system? It could be going off at night when you are not aware of it and pooling water under shrubs etc.

You can be allergic to mosquitos, then the bites will be bigger welts. Good luck. Hopefully this will pass.

[EasyTyler]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Could it be fleas?

Take Bendryl for the welts. I guess you must be far from downtown. The bats take care of lots of the flying bugs when you live central.

I live on South Congress (so much for the bats?!?) and I've been really badly bitten around my elbows (!) They itch like hell and the nearer the bone they are the bigger they've swollen.

The thing is that I've lived here over a month now and only this week have I been bitten (and at least 6 times all in one go). Could it have anything to do with the tropical storms?