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Roy_Lynne's avatar
Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015

Gnats, mosquitoes and things that bite

We are planning a trip to the Great Salt Lake and I saw a notice at one of the campgrounds that the No-See-ems were hatching and even head nets didn't work
Shall we rethink going. How long are they active? Is it really a problem we should consider? I've dealt with mosquitoes all my life, but never lived around no-see-ems.
Thanks so much.

28 Replies

  • From our experience in Florida I can tell you that No-see-ums are the worse! A couple weeks ago I got about 100 bites on my arms and probably more than that on my legs, all in about 1 hour outside after dark.

    Repellent and a fan could be the only way to beat them. There are some larger weave screens that they can come right through.
  • We were in Savannah at a time when the sand gnats were active and you really could not enjoy the outdoors or leave a window or your TT door open because they are so small they can go right through the screens. OFF or Cutter helps somewhat but not a fool proof fix. Our friend got bit up pretty badly and scratched till he bled.... then got infected. Those little buggers sure know how to ruin a good camping trip.
  • Here is another awful bug to encounter when camping. Not sure if they are indigenous where you are going.

    Blind Mosquitoes technically not a mosquito. Found near water.

    The CG I stayed at right on the water had them. I woke up to literally a 'wall' of these outside my MH. They were in your eyes, up the nose just engulfed your face. It was like a Hitchcock movie!

    They have a specific time of the year they do this and lasts several weeks. AND no matter what you do they get inside houses and MH's and die and you have inches of them in window sills.

    Shoveling snow or funky bugs is the tradeoff of moving here. :W
  • Here's a great blog and she gives reviews on the campgrounds they stay. Here's her review on Antelope Island, Salt Lake. Read the 'Summary'. The gnats are bad this time of year.

    Salt Lake Gnats
  • Just get a thermacell and you can sit at your picnic table for as long as you keep it going

    jack L
  • Roy&Lynne wrote:
    We are planning a trip to the Great Salt Lake and I saw a notice at one of the campgrounds that the No-See-ems were hatching and even head nets didn't work
    Shall we rethink going. How long are they active? Is it really a problem we should consider? I've dealt with mosquitoes all my life, but never lived around no-see-ems.
    Thanks so much.


    I am from up North and dealt with B57 Bomber size mosquitoes.

    I am in Florida now and the no-see-ums bring me to my knees. The bites and itching from these invisible bugs are HORRIFIC.

    They are not in all areas but if someone "tells" you they are there?
    IMHO I would change venues for the camping trip.

    Just saying, you will end up locked up in your RV for the duration of your stay.
  • If they are the same as in Florida, at dusk and at dawn are the most active times.

    They can be keep away by the use of strong fans.

    Usually found heavier around the banks of salt water.
  • We deal with all of those and more in Florida and it does not stop us from going camping. All part of the "pound of flesh" required to have some fun sometimes.

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