Thank You Buzz Patch Company (Chemical Free – Mosquito, Midges, Sandflies, & Ticks Repellant). #BuzzPatch http://www.buzzpatch.com

Sorry, it has taken me a bit to tell you about this great company line. As you may or my not know, I am severely allergic to Mosquitos, Ants, Spiders, and Gnats. TOTALLY SUCKS!!!

Last year I had 2!!! MAJOR ALLERGIC REACTIONS. Both causing me to almost have to go to the hospital. My first one was from MOSQUITOS. I ran a fever for a week, before it finally broke. The second one, I didn’t even know I was allergic to. MIDGES (also known as NO SEEUMS)!!! Fu*kers!!!

I basically, went into Anaphylactic Shock.[an·a·phy·lact·ic shock]

Definition: An extreme, often life-threatening allergic reaction to an antigen to which the body has become hypersensitive.

And this folks is how I could have died. God and Angels were looking out for me.

I live on the Puget Sound, on Bainbridge Island, Washington, U.S.A.. I was walking from my truck to my front door, basically, 50 steps, back and forth bringing groceries in. Unbenounced to me, I was getting eaten alive!

About an hour later, I couldn’t breathe. Then, I would struggle to breathe, and would panick, then, I couldn’t breathe. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Over 24 hours straight. We found my inhaler. I took double dose Benedryl Ultra (the pink pill) every 2 hours (instead of every 4), had to lay down. Started throwing up, couldn’t breathe. IT WAS INSANE!!!

We were still new to the Island, and 911 would take about 20+ minutes to get to me. Then, these welps appeared all over my arms, legs, stomach, back, feet, even my scalp, the size of my palms, so big they stretched the skin, causing my skin to later peel. I then knew, this definitely wasn’t asthma, I was attacked. I called my friend and asked him what bugs bite out here. That’s how I found out. Fu*king GNATS, the land of NO SEEUMS!!!

Well, about 2 days later, I was breathing again. Petrified, and paranoid of this bug, the GNAT!!! What was once welps, was now giant blisters, because I had so many bites in specific locations, they would merge and create giant blisters. It was INCREDIBLY PAINFUL!!! IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BONKERS!!!

So, now it was take hot showers, then put cold compresses on head, and super hot spots, take Benedryl in super quantities, do my inhaler, mass Tylenol, stay hydrated, rest. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. For a week!!!

I survived that ordeal. Only to be hit with lockdown from COVID-19, and impossible to get a new patient for General Practitioner, for general exam, to be referred to a Allergist, to get Epi Pen, more Inhalers, and more drugs.

Super down side, my drugs are steroid based. FML!!! So, WEIGHT GAIN. I carry it well, but damn! I’m trying to lose weight, not fuc*king gain weight!!!

I literally suffer PTSD from the whole experience. I say this in present tense, because it still freaks me out. I time what time I go outside, and put serious thought into my outfits, and any fragrances on my body.

So, for all of you unfamiliar with Gnats/No Seeums here is the information:

Description:

No-See-Ums are also referred to as Biting Midges, Biting Gnats, Punkies or Sand Flies. With grayish or yellowish bodies, the adults resemble mosquitoes, although they are smaller than mosquitoes. In fact, they are so small they can get through screens on windows and doors.

Besides causing painful bites, they can also be vectors of diseases, particularly in tropical regions. These pests are very well-known among anybody that spends considerable time outdoors.

No-See-Ums have the same four-stage life cycle as mosquitoes. After she has a bloodmeal for the development of her eggs, the female No-See-Um will lay her eggs on water, mud or a wet sandy area. Eggs are a whitish shade at first, but they will gradually darken.

After an egg hatches, the white worm-like larva will begin to eat organic matter. It has a protuberance which allows it to breathe in its surroundings. After approximately 28 days, the larva will pupate at the surface, turning into an adult No-See-Um. After eating, the adult No-See-Um will mate and the cycle will continue.

Both male and female No-See-Ums eat nectar for energy and nourishment, but only the female will bite humans to draw blood for egg development. These tiny biters are usually active at dawn and dusk, especially during the middle to the end of summer. Their bite can be very painful, with the welts lasting for several days. Although some people will have the discomfort of the bite, others can develop allergic reactions or other problems which will need medical attention.

In some countries, particularly in tropical regions, these insects can be transmitters of parasites and diseases such as filarial worms in humans and bluetongue virus in livestock. Besides causing discomfort and skin lesions, the parasitic worm’s affliction requires medical attention. Economic ruin can occur for the agricultural sector of an area endemic with bluetongue.

Even if a No-See-Um is not a vector of disease, it can still be a pest, ending up in a person’s mouth, nose, ears and eyes. This can lead to economic problems as tourists may be driven from a particular area that has been infested by these annoying, vicious little insects.

Breeding Habits:

The female No-See-Um will lay her eggs in a wide range of locations. No-See-Ums breeding grounds include lakes, ponds, treeholes, moist soil and even in plants that are able to retain pockets of water. No-See-Ums breeding grounds along seashores are in wet sand, which is where females often lay their eggs. The No-See-Ums breeding grounds can differ by species.

After mating with a male usually in the midst of a large swarm, the female No-See-Um can lay 400 or more eggs at one time. This breeding can take place 5-7 times during her adult life.

With as quickly as these insects progress through their life cycle, it’s easy to see why there can be tremendous populations of these No-See-Ums swarming around a particular region.

Geography:

Where do No-See-Ums live?

No-See-Ums can be found throughout the world. There are about 4,000 to 5,000 currently known species of these biting midges. Their range includes tropical, sub-tropical, sub-Saharan and temperate regions, as well as areas with cooler climates.

These annoying little vectors can be found in fresh water habitats as well as salt-water marshes, depending on the preference of the species.

Interesting Facts:

Both No-See-Ums and Gull Midges are the only pollinators of the cacao tree, from which we get cocoa beans for our chocolate.

Although the larval stage generally takes about 28 days, it can last up to a year in certain species in cold climates. Remember, I currently live in Washington, USA. HELLO!!! One warm day, and all those dormant eggs can hatch, along with new eggs. Swarms of them.

In tropical regions, larvae can even be found in rotting fruit.

Scotland is known for its “biting midges,” as these pests are called there. Depending on their species, these flies will bite other insects, birds and mammals, including humans. The most prevalent midge in many parts of Scotland is the Highland Midge which prefers to breed in woodland, pastures and areas with particular moor grasses. There is concern that these biters can affect outdoor workers as well as tourists. This creates a need for effective protection against No-See-Ums.

Blue Tongue is a disease transmitted to livestock but not to humans.

Insecticides, larvicides and repellents are either useless or very limited in their success in fighting No-See-Ums. Even DEET offers only limited No-See-Ums protection.

There are screens which are of a much narrower weave that can be used on windows to help prevent no-see-ums from entering a home. Regular size screens have too wide of spacing between the weaving to prevent the entry of these tiny pests.

Midges have been found on Mount Everest!

No-see-ums are known as “Knotts” in Norway, “Moose Flies” in Canada and “Meanbh-Chuileag” (tiny fly) in Gaelic-speaking countries.

It is believed that biting midges are drawn to mammals, including humans by detecting certain odors we emit, particularly the odor of carbon dioxide and the odor of lactic acid. That means that CO2 mosquito traps offer an effective form of No-See-Um protection.

So, all that being said, you now understand my HELL.

That brings me back to this wonderful company that contacted me and sent me a God send.

Buzz Patch:

http://www.buzzpatch.com

facebook.com/buzzpatchcom

instagram.com/buzz.patch

They make Chemical Free, Mosquitoes, Midges, Sandflies, and Ticks Repellant Patches. I’ve attached pictures of their website, the pictures of their AWESOME and AMAZING products, I now own.

If you suffer slightly, to greatly, of allergies to these bugs, aka demon bugs, as far as I’m concerned (except for that chocolate thing), I very highly recommend Buzz Patch (Repellent patches)