It is surprising Owen and Milo don’t have large red bites on their legs and bottoms, because Abby and I do. Apparently we were sitting in a community of no-see-ums, or sand flies, or biting midges as they are called. They look like tiny beige worms. Yuck! We flicked them off for a few minutes before we got smart and moved to dryer ground. This critter comes out in the evening hours in moist or marsh areas when there is no wind. Don’t know why we didn’t experience them the evenings before. The female bites the birds or humans to get blood to assist her reproductive process, and we were unwitting participants. Wouldn’t you think, with all the people we know who’ve been to Rocky Point, we would have heard of this? The bites get worse in the week(s) following the initial feast, and in severe cases can persist for months. There is even a disease called Leishmaniasis that results from parasites from the critters infesting the body. Chill, Abby. I don’t think we need to worry. I’ve been using cortisone cream. Hope it works soon.
Yeah, a little bit unsettled by the parasite comment. (I think I need to clarify that the bites aren’t on our bottoms, it would just make sense if they were on the babies’ bottoms.)
June 19th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
I mean, “I hope the no-see-ums don’t bite me”!
June 20th, 2007 at 12:59 am
It is surprising Owen and Milo don’t have large red bites on their legs and bottoms, because Abby and I do. Apparently we were sitting in a community of no-see-ums, or sand flies, or biting midges as they are called. They look like tiny beige worms. Yuck! We flicked them off for a few minutes before we got smart and moved to dryer ground. This critter comes out in the evening hours in moist or marsh areas when there is no wind. Don’t know why we didn’t experience them the evenings before. The female bites the birds or humans to get blood to assist her reproductive process, and we were unwitting participants. Wouldn’t you think, with all the people we know who’ve been to Rocky Point, we would have heard of this? The bites get worse in the week(s) following the initial feast, and in severe cases can persist for months. There is even a disease called Leishmaniasis that results from parasites from the critters infesting the body. Chill, Abby. I don’t think we need to worry. I’ve been using cortisone cream. Hope it works soon.
June 20th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Yeah, a little bit unsettled by the parasite comment. (I think I need to clarify that the bites aren’t on our bottoms, it would just make sense if they were on the babies’ bottoms.)
June 21st, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Bottoms up abby!
July 9th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Were you not on your bottoms in the tidal pool?!!!
July 18th, 2007 at 12:21 am
Prove that it wasn’t on your bottom Abby! (Mark)