IT’S an urban myth that midges or sandflies cause such a nasty bite because they urinate on people, University of Sydney’s Department of Medical Entomology clinical lecturer Dr Cameron Webb says.
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Midges use their mouths to chew on bare skin, while in contrast mosquitoes are blood sucking creatures.
Dr Webb said residents in Port Macquarie should be particularly wary of midges in the lead up to summer, as they are attracted to warmer weather and found in abundance near estuaries, mudflats, creeks and other water bodies.
While midges are unlike mosquitoes in that they are not known to carry any diseases, people can have bad reactions and bites can become infected.
It is possible, Dr Webb said for people to build up a tolerance to midges over time.
Those who are unlucky enough to be bitten rarely feel or see the midges as they are so small. The red bites will often appear hours after the person has been bitten.
The population of midges in Port Macquarie tends to vary from year to year according to seasonal changes of the region.
Dr Webb has warned people that midges can fly into homes and as they are so small can also squeeze through fly screens.
“It’s a really great idea to use a surface spray on the fly screen of your doors to prevent the insects from getting inside your house,” he said.
Dr Webb advises people to use insect repellent and wear long sleeved clothing if they do go out bush walking or fishing.
