Plagues of mossies don't always go hand in hand with very hot climates.
One of the worst areas to be, is up in the Arctic in mid-summer where the temperatures are never excessive, but the massive swarms of mossies are unbelievable.
I spend quite a bit of time in Central Sweden, and the mossies there in mid Summer are far worse than anything I have ever seen in Spain.

I lived on the Isle of Mull on the west coast of Scotland and we had to wear ridiculous hats with nets to be outside any longer than 5 minutes in summer (particularly late summer) once the sun started to go down! Gorgeous long northern summer evenings, ruined by hoards of horrendous midgies!

We had the same problem on holiday in Canada. Don't have much problem on the CDS except our last house, garden backed onto golf course and a lake. Wasn't good eating on the terrace late evening. Now a bit higher and hardly see any.

Well, the mosquito problem here is very bad in July to September - I assume it's down to the rice cultivation in the area.. If you are out after dark, you can get eaten alive.

So, we have screens over the windows so we can have the windows open at night, we come in promptly at dusk, we keep the doors tight shut, and open them as little as poss.

Despite all this, one or two get in, so the last task before lights out is a patrol of the bedroom with fly swats to deal with any unwelcome guests.

Basically, if you have a secure house, they can't get in unless you let them in.

A useful treatment for bites is to take a paper kitchen towel, fold it up and wet it. Put it in the microwave for 5 - 10 secs, and at the hottest you can bear, use it as a hot poultice. That is usually very effective indeed, and can really stop the irritation. As with all treatments, the sooner it is applied, the more effective it is, and it's important not to scratch it or it will start up again.

Has anyone seen those little yellow "zappers" for bites, as long as you use it as soon as possible after being bitten, the bite doesn't have the same, well, bite... You can get them in Boots (good old Boots, how I miss it and its BOGOFs!).

maybe you mean Afterbite?

you can get something like that here - it might even be the same thing - called the same too


personally I don't think you can beat vinegar or lemon juice if you can act quickly enough

No, it's an actual mechanical device that you use to "zap" the bite. A doctor friend recommended it to me. It's brilliant! Here's a link, I use the Click Insect Bite Relief disc. Def worth the money!
http://www.shopwiki.co.uk/Click-Away+Bite+Relief

wow - very clever

Trick is to get it as soon as possible though to prevent swelling and itching. It hurts a tiny bit but not as much as itchy bites (makes me itch just thinking about it)

I read that applying roll-on deodorant on the bite straight away is a quick way to stop itching, it works for me.