Steve_P

I'll third that.

I don't know of any insect that actually creates blisters when they bite or sting.

Simon Legree

That was my take on it. Nothing that I could think of and certainly not a mozzie, and not a blister like that one.

iaink

FWIW I used to come up in huge golf ball sized welts every time, but after a few years here it got better, and now I dont hardly notice bites after the initial itch unless they are in a rubbing spot. So for some people at least there is hope that their immune system will develop to cope less aggressively.


But I still think that's more likely poison ivy than a mozzie.


As for bug spray that works, if Im working up a sweat or heading off into wooded areas with a lot of mossies then I stick to the higher DEET % Backwoods Off in the aerosol can rather than the lower concentration less oily "skintastic" pump spray version. It works well, but smell awful and eats plastic!


Has anyone tried the non oily "off" I've seen advertised? Wondering how it is, because I don't much care for the heavy duty spray to be honest, even though it does a good job.

Alan2005

I've seen mosquito bites like it. It's not that rare.

Note: It's an allergic reaction, not the bite 'creating a blister'

Steve_P

I stand corrected.

I've not seen it but that just proves I don't get out much.

Alan2005

I saw it a few times in Thailand. Lots of mosquitoes [is that right? firefox spell checker says it is but it doesn't look right to me] there too. I've not seen it in Canada, but as Oink says there aren't that many bitey insects around Vancouver for the most part.

Edit to add: none of this means you are wrong to suggest poison ivy - only the OP can answer that.

Seedubs

A quote from the NHS over here:

I get lumps, lots of swelling but rarely blisters, but I have know others to.

purple80

Yes I have had this kind of reaction, I take antihistamine, and that does not stop it. The worst it has ever been was after visiting Canada last year, I flew back to the UK and was wheel chaired off the plane straight to hospital, I had been bitten on my feet, the swelling was terrible, and I had two enormous blisters. I could not walk properly for three weeks.

I have had this happen in the UK, France and Canada.

I am planning to a lot of research this winter to see if I can do anything else, Vitamin B has been mentioned to me, as has yeast.

Found this photo, it is from last year................. I was on antibiotics for two weeks and ordered to put my feet up they were so swollen, the hospital was very worried about the infection spreading.

The children and I named the larger blister Boris.

Silverdragon102

I had a bad reaction a couple months ago on my knee and it blistered and went a bit septic, that was the worst as usually just get very big lumps and itches like hell

Chookie

I react very badly to mozzies too - usually just huge red itchy lumps, but I do get the odd blister like in that picture as well.

And they seem to take an age to heal

Dave+Jules

Vinegar seems to deter them. I tried it this year as an experiment and it seemed relatively effective. I am planning to conduct an experiment next season by visiting mozzie infested areas with different types of protection to see what is most effective.

purple80

I read your vinegar experiment, but not sure I want to smell like a pickle?
Will watch out for next years experiments....

Charlie

Mistress Miggins

Poor old Mr Miggins got bitten alive up in Northern Alberta this summer (I think it was Pine Lake??). Like yourselves the bugs just laughed (apparently you can hear them if you listen hard enough) at the idea of bug spray, so he was left with no other option that to wear a FULL BUG SUIT while flying a helicopter in plus 30C!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So yep, the bugs can be little Bs here and deserve 10 out of 10 for being tenacious!

Good luck with the bug repellant and let us know when you have it figured, because I know one person who would just love to hear more about it!

Mrs M X

Dave+Jules

I tried it this year for a couple of outings and it did work. The pickled onion smell only lasts for a short while. No one licked my arms or neck to tell me if I still tasted like a pickle though