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I'm allergic to mosquitoes??? I currently live in Detroit and my hubby and I are are contemplating a Charleston move. We're looking into the Mount Pleasant area.
We get some hot and humid days/night during our summers here in Detroit, but on those days mosquitoes LOVE me, and even when I drench myself in repellent I still get some bites. They swell to the size of half dollars sometimes and last for a week or 2. It's annoying, but I deal with it and only have to worry about it a couple months out of the year.
I've heard the bugs (and mosquitoes) are bad in Charleston, but how bad is it really? Will I be miserable? I don't want to be covered in deet all the time
Did ya catch the Yankees vs. Cleveland American League Playoff game #2? lol. Bugs aren't as bad as that, AMEN, but yes the state bird here is the mosquito!
I don't get bit here any more than I did in the adirondacks, fewer black flies too. Don't consider living near the marsh. Planned communites are your best bet. Some areas are very diligent about spraying. There are effective deterrent systems. But how are you with fire ants?
Thanks for the responses, and yes, I've been learning about the fire ants too!
Is it inevitable for one to get attacked by fire ants or does anyone live there peacefully with no problems?? Are there some areas worse than others with fire ants?
Charleston seemed like such a great place to live, but I'm really starting to get scared hearing about all the creepy crawlys and attacking insects! I currently live in a suburban area in MI where I love being outside enjoying the summer nights, BBQing on our deck, relaxing in the hammock, etc. The most I have to deal with is an occasional pesky fly or bumble bee, sometimes mosquitoes.
I don't don't want to feel "on gaurd" all the time or feel stuck in the house every summer evening! Do residents of Charelston enjoy being outside during this time or are they combatting bugs and fire ant mounds all summer?
I haven't gotten bitten by fire ants yet and I've been running through woods, crawling under houses and all sorts of outdoor activities in the area for the past 5 years.
That's the thing about fire ants, you don't realize they are there until you are standing in the middle of a mound and suddenly feel pinches on your legs and down in your shoes. You quickly tear off your shoes and socks and usually both have several ants all over them. Their bites are nasty, you get this pimple looking fluid filled sore that itches like mad. There is no area that is worse than another when it comes to fire ants. I see their mounds all the time on the sides of the road. They are mainly in grassy areas or plant beds. I have a huge one right now under my magnolia tree.
The mosquitoes are mostly out early in the mornings or early evenings but it is still possible to get bit anytime of the day if you have shaded wet areas around your house. We usually can't sit outside in the evenings in warm weather without wearing some kind of repellent or having some kind of bug torch going. They will eat you up. So yes if your plans are to sit outside in the evenings you can expect some kind of annoyances. Then there is the no-see-ums.........
I mentioned fire ants because I was worried about your allergies. We have a cabinet for Epipens in my house.
The ant mounds seem to pop up right after it rains. If you get with your neighbors and all treat at the same time so you don't just move them next door for a while, you will be fine.
Really the benefits of living here outweigh the little problems. Visit the first week of April, when the azaleas and wild wisteria are in bloom and you will be sold.
If you have issues with mosquitos and can afford it, buy a home with a screen porch, and if you can get under the porch, put screen under the floor. Then you can sit out in the evening without worrying about the mosquitos. Living closer to the water/marsh, you get a bit more breeze and that can help too. If it's windy enough, they can't fly!!Charleston County does monitor for mosquitos and has spray trucks that drive around and spray in the middle of the night, but we are a moist climate here and they still hatch after a rainfall. I grew up in Maine and the mosquitos and gnats in Charleston are not as bad as they were up there in June.
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