How to Get rid of No See Ums | Top 10 Best No-See-Ums Repellents
No-see-ums are also known as ‘Biting Midges’ and are tiny insects belonging to the Ceratopogonidae family that are capable of sucking human blood.
There are about four thousand species of no-see-ums and each of them is capable of stinging humans and other animal hosts despite their small size and is capable of surviving in extreme weather conditions.
Despite their miniature size, no-see-ums bites are quite painful as they suck blood from their hosts and leave red, itchy welts behind that eventually lead to rashes.
Just like mosquitoes, they produce an anticoagulant fluid through their saliva for continuous blood flow that produces an allergic reaction that manifests the insect’s bite marks.
Their bites are not extremely dangerous but when people scratch the bitten area without treating it properly, the rashes can turn into infected lesions that last for several weeks.
How to get rid of No See Ums?
You can get rid of No-see-ums with the help of the following repellents available in the market:
- Avon SSS Bug Guard Plus Picaridin Aerosol
- Coghlan’s Bug Jacket and Bug Pants
- Repel 94101 40 Percent DEET Max for No-see-ums
- The Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent
- Gloue Bug Zapper Light Bulb
- Black Flag Fogging Insecticide
- Black Flag Electric Insect Fogger
- Green Bug All-Natural Bug Spray
- No No-see-um Natural Repellent
- Repel HG – 94108 100 Insect Repellent
Top 10 Best No See Ums Repellents : Review
1. Avon SSS Bug Guard Plus Picaridin Aerosol
Avon SSS Bug Guard Plus Picaridin Aerosol is highly effective against no-see-ums, mosquitoes, sand flies, deer ticks and many other pests as it is made of Picaridin instead of DEET.
Picaridin that is used in the making of this no see ums repellent is retrieved from black pepper and hence, doesn’t contain any dangerous chemical and is PABA free.
Additionally, Picaridin also prevents the spread of diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile Virus disease.
Avon SSS Bug Guard Plus Picaridin Aerosol can be used as a sunscreen as well, as it contains SPF 30 sunscreen lotion, moisturizing protection with aloe vera, and vitamin E. It can be used by every member of the family as it does not cause any side-effect.
How to Use: The aerosol is very easy to use as you just need to apply it on the exposed skin before you go outside in sun and near the insects. You can reapply it within two hours for a continuous effect, however, the re-application should not exceed nine applications per day. It can be used by adults and children above six months of age.
2. Coghlan’s Bug Jacket and Bug Pants
This no see ums repellent consists of full-length unisex jackets and pants made of ultra-fine no-see-um mesh to protect the person wearing it from no-see-ums, mosquitoes, and various other biting insects.
Coghlan’s Bug Jacket and Bug Pants is very helpful for outdoor enthusiasts and people working in insect-infested areas as it is available in various sizes with elastics, making it convenient to wear.
How to Use: You just need to wear the Coghlan’s Bug Jacket and Pants over your clothing to obtain adequate protection from no-see-ums.
Despite the jacket being lightweight and effective, you need to wear a full-sleeved shirt underneath as the fabric is too rough. Also, you should be extra cautious of fire and smoke as the sparks can easily poke a hole in the polyester jacket.
3. Repel 94101 40 Percent DEET Max for No-see-ums
This no see ums repellent is a pump spray and contains 40% DEET content to provide adequate and long-lasting protection against no-see-ums, gnats, mosquitoes, biting flies, chiggers, and fleas.
Repel 94101 40 Percent DEET Max for No-see-ums It is best suited for outdoor enthusiasts like hikers, hunters, bikers, joggers, and adventurers as the spray can easily be packed with one’s outdoor gear and the lower levels of DEET make it safe for use around other animals.
How to Use: It is easy to use as you just need to spray it on your body or clothes. Its single application remains effective for almost five hours and can be used on adults and children above the age of two months, without showing any side effects.
4. The Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent
This no see ums repellent is available in the form of both spray and lotion, providing at least eight hours of protection against no-see-ums, biting gnats, chiggers, sand flies, and mosquitoes as it contains Picaridin.
It does not produce any odor, making it highly suitable for use during outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing.
How to Use: This repellent is easy and safe to use as it doesn’t affect clothing, backpacks, fishing lines, sunglasses, watches, or other synthetic fiber. It can be applied not only on clothes and objects but also on human skin, without causing any side effects.
You would need to re-apply it around three times during the whole day to provide effective protection. However, lotions typically last longer than sprays.
5. Gloue Bug Zapper Light Bulb
This bug zapper light bulb can be used to get rid of no-see-ums, gnats, moths, mosquitoes, and other biting insects, and at the same time, it can provide light as intense as other lamps.
This no see ums repellent attracts bugs and gnats by emitting high energy Ultraviolet light and the insect dies as soon as it comes in contact with the extremely high voltage electrically charged metal grid.
Gloue Bug Zapper contains three switchable modes: Bug Zapper, Light Only, and Bug Zapper. The Light mode provides the facility of a lamp as well as insect repellent at the same time.
How to Use: It is really easy to use as you just need to select the right mode depending upon the necessity. The three switchable modes consist of regular light and bug zapper mode at the first switch, just slight light mode at the second switch, and bug zapper mode at the third switch.
It is safe for use around humans and children as it is made up of eco-friendly material. However, adult supervision is advised in case it is used around children.
6. Black Flag Fogging Insecticide
This Fogger-based repellent gets rid of no-see-ums by killing them instead of preventing them, making it highly suitable for outdoor activities such as hiking and picnic in highly infested areas, and for people living close to lakes and ponds.
The fog is an odorless, synthetic pyrethroid and disappears quickly leaving no residue. Also, the fog does not cause any adverse effects on humans, especially children.
How to Use: It is easy to use as you just need to take the Fogger near the infested place, turn it on, and let it do the rest of the work. Once used, it remains effective for about six hours at a particular place.
7. Black Flag Electric Insect Fogger
The Black Flag Electric Insect Fogger is best suited for use near ponds and forested regions as it is highly effective against no-see-ums, mosquitoes, and other flying gnats and midges.
Black Flag Electric Insect Fogger is capable of treating an average of 5000 sq. ft. area in less than ten minutes and is best to use at dusk when the wind subsides, and the insects emerge slowly. It is capable of preventing and killing insects for about six hours after being applied at a particular place.
Additionally, it produces microscopic particles that have a size 7-times finer than mist, allowing them to penetrate deep into the landscape areas where the various insects reside.
How to Use: The repellent is easy to use and you just need to plug it in and start fogging in the desired areas.
The trigger needs to be squeezed once every 3-4 seconds to obtain optimal dry, white fog. It is recommended to use only three types of wires: 10 gauge, 12 gauge, or 14 gauge extension cord for this repellent.
8. Green Bug All-Natural Bug Spray
Green Bug is a natural, DEET-free repellent as it makes use of Cedar oil as one of its most active ingredients.
It is highly effective against no-see-ums, mosquitoes, chiggers, gnats, mites, and other biting insects as they have a biological to the aroma of the Cedar, which shuts down their breathing system.
How to Use: It is an easy-to-use repellent as you just need to spray it on your body for adequate protection. It can be used around babies, kids, cats, dogs, and other animals as it is a natural repellent. Additionally, it can be applied to clothing, carpet, and household furniture, without causing any side effects.
9. No No-see-um Natural Repellent
This is a natural, DEET-free, Picaridin-free, non-toxic no-see-ums repellent, that has been exclusively designed to repel no-see-ums but is still effective against no-see-ums, mosquitoes and other biting insects.
This no see ums repellent consists of 93% reverse osmosis water, 3% citronella, 3% lemongrass oil, and 1% geranium rose oil, making it completely natural and harm-free as it is also approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for insect control.
How to Use: The repellent is easy to use as it can be applied as often as required, depending upon the number of insects infesting the particular place. Since it is non-greasy and non-toxic, it can be safely used around humans, young children, horses, cats, and dogs.
10. Repel HG – 94108 100 Insect Repellent
This no see ums repellent contains 98.11% DEET to protect heavily insect-infested places. It provides long-lasting protection of about 10 hours from no-see-ums and other biting bugs.
The repellent is in the form of a pump spray making it easy and convenient to carry along in outdoor trips. Additionally, it is economically quite cheap as compared to other repellents.
How to Use: It is easy to use as you just need to spray it on your body or clothes. However, it should not be used on bruised skin, should be kept away from the eyes, and the sprayed clothes should preferably be washed before using again.
Buyer Guide to select the Best No See Ums Repellent
Before buying any repellent to get rid of No-see-ums, you should keep the following points in mind and make sure that the repellent is fit for your use:
1. Exclusiveness of the product for no-see-ums
Generally, all insect repellents are made using facilities that are generally effective against exterminating the majority of insects, however, unlike exclusive no-see-um repellents, they are not made after studying the specific characteristics and behavior of no-see-ums.
Hence, contrary to the general all insect repellents, the no-see-um repellents would prove to be more effective as they would be made by closely monitoring the nature and behavior of no-see-ums.
2. Suitability of the no-see-um repellent
Most of the repellents have specific grounds of applications, and each is suitable for different types of users.
For example, some of the repellents are stronger and hence, suitable for outdoor activities such as hiking and camping, while some are suitable for preventing no-see-ums in households and other indoor places.
Some are suitable for people living near ponds, lakes, and heavily insect-infested areas, while the others are comparatively less effective and hence, show significant effect only in lightly insect-infested areas.
Thus, one must purchase a no-see-um repellent depending upon his/her needs as using a repellent that is not meant to be used for a particular situation does not provide any effective protection against no-see-ums.
3. Side Effects of the no-see-um repellent
Any repellent that is made of artificial components like DEET and picaridin has certain slight side effects and is not usually suitable for use around kids and animals.
Therefore, before buying any repellent, you should look at DEET and Picaridin ratio and decide if you would be able to tolerate its possible side effects or not.
4. Durability of the repellents
It is most important in the case of spray or tube repellents as you need to know how frequently you would need to apply them.
For example, some people are comfortable in applying the repellents on their skin and surroundings frequently, whereas, some people don’t like it and prefer repellents that last for a long time.
Hence, you should purchase a no-see-um repellent depending upon its effect longevity and its durability.
Conclusion
Eliminating no-see-ums is not an easy task but with the help of an effective repellent, you can get rid of them once and for all.
The repellents are available in various sizes and budget, depending on the various factors such as coverage area, efficiency against other pests, durability, etc. provided by the product.
However, it is suggested that if you should opt for a repellent that does not make use of anything toxic or harmful substance so that it can be used safely around children and other animals.
