When will the oak mite reign of itchiness end?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are definitely differences in how one reacts to these. DH is getting destroyed!! Like huge, painful, and crazy itchy welts all over his torso and legs. He never reacts badly to bug bites so this is a complete first.

Me on the other hand? Haven’t noticed even a single bite and I’m outside a lot and as much as him. No reactions whatsoever. Really odd thing is that I have a particularly robust allergic reaction to mosquito bites. They become super huge and if i itch one then itch somewhere else, I get a rash in that next place. I’m usually covered in bites and rashes.

Of our three kids, we have one who is getting bit alive by these and covered in big welts and two who aren’t reacting at all.

Yeah it's bizarre- normally DD and I are really susceptible to mosquito bites, DS and DH, less so. DD is the only one in the family getting destroyed by the mites. I spend a fair amount of time outside and we have a lot of trees in the neighborhood (including oaks) but don't think I've had any at all yet.

[Anonymous]

Bite b gone is working decently…. Everyday I get new ones

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are definitely differences in how one reacts to these. DH is getting destroyed!! Like huge, painful, and crazy itchy welts all over his torso and legs. He never reacts badly to bug bites so this is a complete first.

Me on the other hand? Haven’t noticed even a single bite and I’m outside a lot and as much as him. No reactions whatsoever. Really odd thing is that I have a particularly robust allergic reaction to mosquito bites. They become super huge and if i itch one then itch somewhere else, I get a rash in that next place. I’m usually covered in bites and rashes.

Of our three kids, we have one who is getting bit alive by these and covered in big welts and two who aren’t reacting at all.

Yeah it's bizarre- normally DD and I are really susceptible to mosquito bites, DS and DH, less so. DD is the only one in the family getting destroyed by the mites. I spend a fair amount of time outside and we have a lot of trees in the neighborhood (including oaks) but don't think I've had any at all yet.

Same here! I have only a few bites that are super itchy and typically am the one that gets attacked ferociously by mosquitos. My DH typically has no problem with mosquitos and has so many oak mite bites!! We walk together, so outside the same amount of time.

[Anonymous]

This area is such a hellhole for so many reasons.

[Anonymous]

They are not only on oak trees. You can find them on many deciduous trees, including maple, cherry, redbud, etc.

You will probably find more falling from trees where cicadas have laid their eggs. These trees are exceptionally easy to identify--you will see cicada pruning on the tree tips.

What this looks like is a tree with branches where the last 8-12 inches of branch tips have turned brown and are dying. Don't stand under any trees that look healthy but have a lot of brown tips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are not only on oak trees. You can find them on many deciduous trees, including maple, cherry, redbud, etc.

You will probably find more falling from trees where cicadas have laid their eggs. These trees are exceptionally easy to identify--you will see cicada pruning on the tree tips.

What this looks like is a tree with branches where the last 8-12 inches of branch tips have turned brown and are dying. Don't stand under any trees that look healthy but have a lot of brown tips.

Where did you get this info from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This area is such a hellhole for so many reasons.

I have never been more excited for winter than I am this year- apparently not even fall will bring reprieve, and normally I love fall!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are not only on oak trees. You can find them on many deciduous trees, including maple, cherry, redbud, etc.

You will probably find more falling from trees where cicadas have laid their eggs. These trees are exceptionally easy to identify--you will see cicada pruning on the tree tips.

What this looks like is a tree with branches where the last 8-12 inches of branch tips have turned brown and are dying. Don't stand under any trees that look healthy but have a lot of brown tips.

Where did you get this info from?

An entomologist friend. He's not a specialist in mites, but I figured it was a good enough source for myself. Take the list of trees with a grain of salt if you wish.

[Anonymous]

For me nothing works except hydrocortisone cream. I have an enormous welt on my neck, the result of two consecutive bites that merged into one, and I can only avoid tearing my neck off with regular applications of hydrocortisone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are not only on oak trees. You can find them on many deciduous trees, including maple, cherry, redbud, etc.

You will probably find more falling from trees where cicadas have laid their eggs. These trees are exceptionally easy to identify--you will see cicada pruning on the tree tips.

What this looks like is a tree with branches where the last 8-12 inches of branch tips have turned brown and are dying. Don't stand under any trees that look healthy but have a lot of brown tips.

Where did you get this info from?

An entomologist friend. He's not a specialist in mites, but I figured it was a good enough source for myself. Take the list of trees with a grain of salt if you wish.

Sounds like these suckers are usually on oak trees because their usual prey lives in oak trees...

"Oak tree gall mites are tiny parasites that attack gall larvae on oak leaves. ... Once the oak tree gall mites have eaten the gall larvae, they leave in search of other food."
source: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/oak/oak-tree-gall-mites.htm#:~:text=Oak%20tree%20gall%20mites%20are,gall%20larvae%20on%20oak%20leaves.&text=Once%20the%20oak%20tree%20gall,blown%20off%20by%20a%20breeze.

Since the cicadas weren't picky about tree location, my guess is these mites "branched out" to new trees this year...

My concern is: does this mean these suckers will reproduce more this year and so we're in for a larger supply again next year???? And without enough food in the trees [next year], does that mean even more will be leaping down to look for meals????

2021 - COVID, Cicadas, and Mites - what an excellent year!!! (Here's looking forward to... ?2024?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are not only on oak trees. You can find them on many deciduous trees, including maple, cherry, redbud, etc.

You will probably find more falling from trees where cicadas have laid their eggs. These trees are exceptionally easy to identify--you will see cicada pruning on the tree tips.

What this looks like is a tree with branches where the last 8-12 inches of branch tips have turned brown and are dying. Don't stand under any trees that look healthy but have a lot of brown tips.

Where did you get this info from?

An entomologist friend. He's not a specialist in mites, but I figured it was a good enough source for myself. Take the list of trees with a grain of salt if you wish.

Sounds like these suckers are usually on oak trees because their usual prey lives in oak trees...

"Oak tree gall mites are tiny parasites that attack gall larvae on oak leaves. ... Once the oak tree gall mites have eaten the gall larvae, they leave in search of other food."
source: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/oak/oak-tree-gall-mites.htm#:~:text=Oak%20tree%20gall%20mites%20are,gall%20larvae%20on%20oak%20leaves.&text=Once%20the%20oak%20tree%20gall,blown%20off%20by%20a%20breeze.

Since the cicadas weren't picky about tree location, my guess is these mites "branched out" to new trees this year...

My concern is: does this mean these suckers will reproduce more this year and so we're in for a larger supply again next year???? And without enough food in the trees [next year], does that mean even more will be leaping down to look for meals????

2021 - COVID, Cicadas, and Mites - what an excellent year!!! (Here's looking forward to... ?2024?)

I think the overpopulation is just expected to be this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are not only on oak trees. You can find them on many deciduous trees, including maple, cherry, redbud, etc.

You will probably find more falling from trees where cicadas have laid their eggs. These trees are exceptionally easy to identify--you will see cicada pruning on the tree tips.

What this looks like is a tree with branches where the last 8-12 inches of branch tips have turned brown and are dying. Don't stand under any trees that look healthy but have a lot of brown tips.

Where did you get this info from?

An entomologist friend. He's not a specialist in mites, but I figured it was a good enough source for myself. Take the list of trees with a grain of salt if you wish.

Sounds like these suckers are usually on oak trees because their usual prey lives in oak trees...

"Oak tree gall mites are tiny parasites that attack gall larvae on oak leaves. ... Once the oak tree gall mites have eaten the gall larvae, they leave in search of other food."
source: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/oak/oak-tree-gall-mites.htm#:~:text=Oak%20tree%20gall%20mites%20are,gall%20larvae%20on%20oak%20leaves.&text=Once%20the%20oak%20tree%20gall,blown%20off%20by%20a%20breeze.

Since the cicadas weren't picky about tree location, my guess is these mites "branched out" to new trees this year...

My concern is: does this mean these suckers will reproduce more this year and so we're in for a larger supply again next year???? And without enough food in the trees [next year], does that mean even more will be leaping down to look for meals????

2021 - COVID, Cicadas, and Mites - what an excellent year!!! (Here's looking forward to... ?2024?)

The next presidential election? No thank you! Maybe 2023 will be a year of reprieve.

[Anonymous]

I read they don’t bite for 4 hours. So the rev is to wear fitted clothing that covers as much skin as possible, change once inside, and hot shower to wash away. I’m going to try limiting outdoor excursions to 1-2 hours and following other recs to see if that helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read they don’t bite for 4 hours. So the rev is to wear fitted clothing that covers as much skin as possible, change once inside, and hot shower to wash away. I’m going to try limiting outdoor excursions to 1-2 hours and following other recs to see if that helps.

*rec not rev

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read they don’t bite for 4 hours. So the rev is to wear fitted clothing that covers as much skin as possible, change once inside, and hot shower to wash away. I’m going to try limiting outdoor excursions to 1-2 hours and following other recs to see if that helps.

My husband dressed like he was going inside the reactor core at Chernobyl when he cut the grass on Sunday (followed by a hot shower) and he still woke up with a bite on his chest Monday morning.

I don't know what the solution is.