No-see-ums are another name for sand flies. They’re surprisingly high on the list of the most annoying biting pests because they’re small and hard to spot. You can have several of these biting pests annoying you before you realize it, and the bites don’t go away quickly. What’s the best way to keep sand flies away? Let’s start from the beginning.
What are Sand Flies?
These are small flies. A bite from a sand fly, or no-see-ums, will last two weeks. An individual bite will welt up and be somewhat painful during this time. The problem is that sand flies always come in large groups. This is what makes them one of the most frustrating biting pests. You can get dozens of bites that will welt up. Together, that’s a lot of pain and for two weeks, your skin will look like you just walked into a wasp’s nest.
It’s typically recommended to wash the bite as soon as you can with warm water and soap. Use a cool compress or ice pack to relieve the pain and swelling. Hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, or aloe vera can also relieve the worst of the itching. Antihistamines are useful as well.
No-see-ums can cause chronic conditions in rare cases, and they are known to transfer worms.
Preventing Sand Flies
Florida pest control for no-see-ums centers around dumping out standing water. Like mosquitoes, this can help to substantially decrease their population. Changing the environment through expert outdoor pest control can also have an impact.
Like with mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting pests, longer clothes repel them to some degree. Many bug repellents are useful. If they become a problem in the home, they can become hard to get rid of without a Florida pest control service. This likely means you have water leaking or pooling somewhere.
If they do become a problem indoors, fans are your best friend until you can get help from a Brevard County pest control service like Slug-A-Bug. No-see-ums are far too small to effectively fly when air is circulating, so you’ll keep them grounded.