Grow Your Own Magazine

anyone else having real problems with bites and stings this year?

last Sat, I was stung on the wrist by something. by Tues, when my whole forearm was bright red, swollen, madly itchy (despite taking Zirtek) and burning hot, I went to the pharmacist, who said 'you need to see a doctor'. 2 hours later - 1 prescription for penicillin for infected insect bite.

so... I take the penicillin as instructed, and will do for another 4 days yet. yesterday I deadheaded the roses, and something stung, bit or poked me on the right hand, just between the first 2 fingers. I now have a totally hot and swollen hand, very uncomfortable when I bend the hand etc etc. I'm assuming the penicillin will do the trick on the new wound...

but I just wondered if it was just me or is anyone else experiencing particularly vicious attacks from the bugs this year?

I'd go to the doctor because it could be an allergic response.

Nothing so far, thank goodness. Only nettle stings and bramble bites. I have a morbid fear of wasp stings, haven't had one for years and years, but I do remember they hurt like h""l. Also I react very badly to mozzie bites and horsefly bites. If you are prone to bad reactions it could be worth using insect repellant before venturing into the garden/lottie. Jungle Formula is very good.

They bite me and go...pahhhh!!...pahh!!! and then fly away!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Something zapped my arm on monday OH said it looked like a second elbow it took two days to clear up not very nice it is usually OH that gets zapped not me some thing went wrong jacob

Lemongrass essential oil. Put a couple of drops on your clothes (old ones for gardening not your best dancing gearas it will stain)Keeps the nasty stingy biting itchy things away

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Et tū, quis es?

ive not been stung by anything but i have noticed that when i am gardening my bare skin gets quite itchy,especially my face and i keep getting these invisible rashes. I only know its there cos it itches and i can feel it.however dont know if its just a heat rash. Its it normal for gardening to irritate your skin?

I had a similar thing happen in Dartmoor a few years back. I think that it may have been bracken spores.

My OH, a very keen amateur botanist, has hay fever and his allergy causes red rashes just from pollen, when he hasn't even touched a plant. He can go for a walk in a short sleeved shirt and come back with his arms covered in red blotches.
I have the Snadger effect on insects! I do get nibbled by midgies in Scotland but I don't get the swelling and reaction. It's some of the plants that bite me! If I'm pulling up goosegrass (a regular visitor!) I get red weals along my arms. Looks like I've had a damned good thrashing!

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Earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson

www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated November 30th - Mr Stinky's Excellent Adventure (and a Christmas Cake)

aka Cleavers, Galium: it does cause allergic reaction in some...those little miniature hooks it's got can really scratch

BTW, congrats member of month!

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Beanchick said
I've had the same experience - caused by a tiny black beetle, no more than 2mm long, really hard shell so difficult to squat and it hurts when it bites you, really nasty little nip. I've found I'm more likely to get bitten in the evening. Didn't need antibiotics but took piriton to relieve allergic reaction.

Sorry - typed the wrong name there - should have been Beach Chick said

I got bit by one of those on my neck yesterday, felt the pain and scratched - small black beetle. Unfortunately killed it so couldn't identify it. No alergic reaction though thank goodness.

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Regards, Jane
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? The creative adult is the child who has survived.
Ursula LeGuin
http://www.etribes.com/madderbat

Hi,

There was an article in the 2nd June issue of Amateur Gardening that talked about a biting spider that is growing in numbers around the UK, especially in the south. Its related to the Black Widow!! When it bites it feels like a wasp sting.

I've scanned in the article so everyone can see a picture of them, so you know what to look out for!! You might not be able to read the article as I had to reduce it in size quite a bit.


Clareg

Attached Thumbnails

 

Flummery, I get the same from goosegrass, you are the only other person I know who reacts in the same way. Nobody will believe me when I tell them a weed did it!!

I got bit by an ant yesterday. A black ant at that. there are tons of nests all over my allotment, and I dug his up putting my beans in. I felt a nip, had a look, and this tiny wee ant was up on his back legs, with his pincers dug right in my arm. I'm ashamed to say i watered his nest in retaliation

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

I drink too much gin and tonic for the mozzies to come anywhere near me, all that quinine! Thanks for the pic of the spider clareg, I'm not normally bothered by them but shall watch out for that one just in case.

oh I get the goosegrass thing too!
I think the only thing is to get a complete neck to toe protective suit and possibly a beekeepers hat!!
shall watch out for black beetles and black widow spiders from now on.