So a few days ago, my wife and I woke up with a couple of itchy “bites” on our upper bodies. Figured just a spider bite or something. Next day, a couple more, and a couple more the day after.
Now I’m the president of the “ignore it and it’ll go away” club, but after 4-5 days of this we’re figuring, “Man, wouldn’t it suck if we ignored it and before we know what happened we have a full-blown bedbug infestation?!” So now I’m entertaining myself with lovely on-line images of various folks’ various ites, swelling, and infections… And every time I feel the slightest sensation anywhere on my body, I’m thinking… Examine the sheets - no blood. Launder them and inspect the mattress - no sign. What the hell, might as well vaccuum it… Trying not to drive ourselves crazy, but also not ignoring something that needs attention.
This morning I wake with 1 more. Wife hasn’t had any in a couple of days. I go for a bike ride with my sister - whose daughter had a bedbug problem - and I ask her about my bites. She tells me she has been having the same, and they are apparently mites that eat cicada eggs in the trees and fall out and bite people.
Cicadas - the gift that keeps on giving! What a wonderful tapestry the divine clockmaker devised!
Are those the same as oak mites? We’ve had to deal with them a few times. Kinda like chiggers except they get you on the upper body instead of legs and ankles.
Yeah - pretty sure they are the same. Just really bad in my neighborhood west of Chicago. As I understand it, their population really blooms after a cicada emergence like we had. I nefer experienced anything like it before.
I often notice little bug bites on my legs the next day or so after I’ve been outside awhile that don’t really seem like mosquito bites. I wonder if I might be getting mite bites as well.
Aaaccckkk. Not another thing I’ve never noticed that could bite me.
Damn Cicadas, why do you torment me so?
Laying your eggs, attracting those bitin’ things?
Why, just why?
Boy, I’m really surprised more of you haven’t been having more of a problem with these. Good luck trying to buy a bottle of Caladryl - or any other anti-itch formula at local stores.
Saw my doctor this morning for my annual. He said the first patient he saw with them he had no idea what they are. Now, every one of his patients has them.
I just find it hard to believe that there was ZERO mention of them with all the media coverage leading up to the emergence. Now they are claiming this was an issue 17 years ago, but I don’t remember it.
And every time I feel the slightest sensation anywhere on my body, I’m thinking… Examine the sheets - no blood. Launder them and inspect the mattress - no sign. What the hell, might as well vaccuum it… Trying not to drive ourselves crazy, but also not ignoring something that needs attention.