When will the oak mite reign of itchiness end?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Oh that’s a bummer. How long would you say he was outside?

[Anonymous]

Hydrocortisone (which was hard to find at multiple drug stores) did nothing for me. Benadryl helped a bit. The thing that seemed to do the trick was pool water. After spending a couple hours in the pool my bites stopped itching and are almost gone.

[Anonymous]

I borrowed some of my older son's prescription steroid cream (for eczema) and that did the trick, very quickly!

Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Oh that’s a bummer. How long would you say he was outside?

No more than an hour. We live on a dead-end and didn't have very many cicadas because the houses on either side were rebuilt in the last 10 years. Guess the mites found the one small oak tree across the street.

[Anonymous]

How are you guys distinguishing these bites from mosquitoes or small nymph ticks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are you guys distinguishing these bites from mosquitoes or small nymph ticks?

From the descriptions posted sounds like the bites are itchier (hard to find relief) and can ooze.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone answer my question from a few pages ago about how long the mites live and if you have to wash the bedsheets constantly?

[Anonymous]

I don't remember these from 17 years ago, and apparently they are a relatively new (2004?) invasive species. I hope we have cicadas in 17 years, and these mites didn't destroy the population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't remember these from 17 years ago, and apparently they are a relatively new (2004?) invasive species. I hope we have cicadas in 17 years, and these mites didn't destroy the population.

I have been wondering this, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are you guys distinguishing these bites from mosquitoes or small nymph ticks?

From the descriptions posted sounds like the bites are itchier (hard to find relief) and can ooze.

My bites are tremendously itchier than mosquito bites and hydrocortisone/caladryl don’t seem to provide relief, the red area is much larger, there is a “pimple” in the middle of the bite, often there is also pain like a bruise would feel, the hard center lasts for weeks after the redness goes away. Some of my bites have had a red “tail” (that’s how I read it described, I’d call it a streak) and can be swollen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't remember these from 17 years ago, and apparently they are a relatively new (2004?) invasive species. I hope we have cicadas in 17 years, and these mites didn't destroy the population.

I have been wondering this, too.

Same here.

[Anonymous]

Is anyone else the only person in the house getting bitten?
My teen daughter keeps getting these bites. She doesn’t spend any notable time outside. We keep washing her bedding and blankets, but she gets a few new ones every couple days. I had one a few weeks ago, but none since. We haven’t traveled or had guests, so it’s not bedbugs.

They almost look like hives when they first appear...raised white bumps, then they spread out into flatter red patches, then get raised again and eventually kind of fade...and they itch like mad the whole time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't remember these from 17 years ago, and apparently they are a relatively new (2004?) invasive species. I hope we have cicadas in 17 years, and these mites didn't destroy the population.

I’m starting to wonder if this is the zeta variant. Or maybe a mutated form of breakthrough chicken pox.

[Anonymous]

Calamine lotion has been a godsend for us. We apply it several times a day to new bites. Works well for us. We tried hydrocortisone which didn’t touch it. They are so itchy and scratching them even a little makes them blow up worse. We are miserable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else the only person in the house getting bitten?
My teen daughter keeps getting these bites. She doesn’t spend any notable time outside. We keep washing her bedding and blankets, but she gets a few new ones every couple days. I had one a few weeks ago, but none since. We haven’t traveled or had guests, so it’s not bedbugs.

They almost look like hives when they first appear...raised white bumps, then they spread out into flatter red patches, then get raised again and eventually kind of fade...and they itch like mad the whole time.

does she leave her window open?