Itchy bugs

[Hansenaz]

I'm more obsessed than most with bug bites - for years I've been locked in a battle of wits with aedes aegypti who come in the cat door and bite my ankles. I think they get in 3 bites for every one I take out with my electric tennis racket.

For this reason I take special notice of this weekend's interaction with gnats. They were swarming during my Saturday hike but didn't really bother me much other than the constant deep dives into my ears. At one point it occurred to me that if there were mosquitoes in this cloud I'd be bitten to death.

Anyway Sunday afternoon I started scratching. At first I thought it was my usual foe but then I noticed the bites were different...long lasting (still today!) and very itchy and particularly in my ears. Gnats! With a time delay! Sheesh.

[nonot]

The typical problem insects in Arizona this time of year are no-see-ums, which are a type of gnat and tend to swarm and bite exposed skin especially around your sock line for whatever reason. I've not yet run into chiggers in AZ and hope I never do.